Discus Thrower Jacob Lemmon Rising To The Top 

By Todd Grasley For DyeStat

Fort Myers FL senior Jacob Lemmon has come a long way over the past four years to become one of the nation's best discus throwers. 

Lemmon threw a US#1 209 feet, 6 inches (63.85m) Saturday at the Lee County Championships.That's less than a foot from the all-time Florida record.

As a ninth grader, he stood 5 feet 10 and weighed a mere 120 pounds. He was cut from the freshman football team. Looking for a competitive sport to be a part of, Lemmon turned to track and field.

“My dad had been a good high jumper and shot putter in high school,” he said. “I also thought it would be a good opportunity to make some friends and do something productive with my time.”

His first year in the sport, Lemmon was primarily a pole vaulter. While he enjoyed throwing the discus just as much, he wasn’t as good at it. Discus was a secondary event. The first time he launched the implement, he threw it maybe 60 feet and credits the seniors on the team at the time, Amos Corgelas and Rob Lombardo, for teaching him how to release the discus off his index finger right.

“I had already dedicated myself to throwing discus the summer after freshman year,” Lemmon said. “I began throwing the discus in the 170s during October of my junior year, which is when I started believing that I could throw at the next level.”

Lemmon went undefeated in the state of Florida, stringing wins together at the District, Regional, and 3A FHSAA state championship meets. He won the state title with a throw of 196-4 (59.84m). He followed that performance with a win at the NTC/Pure Athletics Sprint Elite Meet and a season-best mark of 198-11 (60.65m). His junior season concluded with a fifth-place finish at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.

Life In Transition

The Green Wave standout moved to Virginia the first week of summer break. At first, it was difficult for Lemmon to adjust from a throwing standpoint. He became inconsistent in the weight room for a couple of months, and even though he was throwing more often than he ever had, his practice throw distances decreased.

“I was also away from my throwing coach, which was tough,” he said. “I believe this had an affect on my performance at New Balance Outdoor Nationals last summer. When school started (at Woodgrove High) it became much easier to train. My weight room numbers went up again, and so did my distances. The track coach and the throwing coach at my new school (Kent Staneart and Rob Pettit) were very helpful, and made it easy for me to get back into my rhythm.”

Lemmon didn't stay in Virginia for long. His grandmother, who has a rare form of appendix cancer, suffered a relapse. The family decided to return to Florida. 

“Throughout her battle we were blessed to live nearby to her and my grandfather, so we felt that it would be best to return to Florida and be with them during this time,” he explained. “I’m very thankful that we were able to do this, and that we are now in a position where we can be with them and help them out.”

He knows that even though his grandmother won’t be able to attend his meets, she will be following his progress. 

“I am really worried about her and her condition, but I’m still able to focus on my season. She also enjoys hearing updates on how I’m throwing, so it’s motivation to throw farther.”

Making Progress

Being back in Fort Myers also means a reunion with his personal coach, Andy Vince, who runs Throws Coach Florida. Lemmon owes much of his success to Vince. When the two met after Lemmon's freshman year, he had a personal best of 99 feet (30.17m). 

“I remember him saying that I looked like Bambi when I threw,” he said. “Despite that, he told me that he thought I could throw 185 in high school if I worked hard enough for it. At the time, that excited me because I previously thought it was impossible. He’s impacted my throwing tremendously.”

Vince is also responsible for the transition from pole vault to discus. With an arm span just under 6 feet, 10 inches, it allows Lemmon to give the discus a longer orbit and more speed before he lets it go.

“Being a good discus thrower requires strength, speed, agility, technique, and a lot of practice,” Lemmon said. “I’ve probably thrown the discus over 35,000 times. If you do anything 35,000 times you’re hopefully going to have some success in it. I would say that most Olympians have thrown the discus more than 100,000 times.”

Lemmon, who will compete for the University of Virginia next year, chose the Cavaliers over offers from Stanford, Auburn, the University of Texas and Penn State. He chose UVA because of its high academic standards and history of success.

“The coach is a former Olympic discus thrower and (UVA's) throwing program has recently produced a (NCAA) champion in the discus and shot, as well as produced plenty of All-Americans,” he said. “I felt like I fit the school very well.”

Season In Full Swing

Lemmon recently swept both the shot put and the discus titles at the Pepsi Relays at the University of Florida.

After consistently hovering near the mid-190s all season, he popped the best throw of his career at the Lee County Championships. On his final attempt, he got the big one was looking for.  

“To be honest I didn’t like the way that throw felt,” he said. “I actually yelled in frustration when I released it. I only knew it had flown so far when I saw it almost hit the guy measuring, who was standing at around 210.”

The throw skyrocketed him up the Florida all-time rankings past Westley Stockbarger (203-5/62.02m), Thomas Barber (205-9/62.71m), and just shy of Jarez Parks of Sebastian River, who threw 210-5 (64.13m) to win the state meet back in 2017.

Parks, who signed with the University of Alabama for football, didn’t secure the record without some controversy over whether or not he committed a foul in the process.

“I have to hit it, and I know I will at one of the championship meets,” Lemmon said. “I always throw farther at this time of the season. There’s video evidence Jarez Parks fouled the current state record, and there’s nothing I want more than to give Florida a legitimate state record."

The UVA signee has been tinkering with his technique and believes that’s been the key to his recent success. He is working on staying more grounded during the wind-up of his throw and having a longer base (feet apart) in his power position (the stance he’s in prior to releasing the discus). 

“By the time I’m done with the season I aim to be on the top of that list. I know I’m capable of throwing the state record. I just need to hit a big one at a meet with the right conditions.”

Next up is a possible meet at nearby IMG Academy and then the championship meets. During the summer, he might compete at New Balance Nationals Outdoor again, but he also has hopes of representing Team USA.

“I will definitely be at the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships in hopes to qualify for the junior U.S. Pan Am team,” he said. “My big goal is to throw 220.”

Get To Know Jacob Lemmon

What are three things people may not know about you?

I grew up on Sanibel Island (a small island located in southwest Florida), I have a labradoodle, and I love bike riding.

What pumps you up before a meet?

Two scoops of a supplement called Pre-Workout. It’s a powder with a lot of caffeine in it that gives me an energy boost when I throw (it comes as a powder that I put in water).. Also, my hype playlist on Spotify.

Do you have a favorite food to eat after competing?

Either steak at Outback or fettucine alfredo at Carabbas.

What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?

My throwing coach convincing me to make discus my main event.

Lastly, finish this sentence... Jacob Lemmon is______. 

Jacob Lemmon is just getting started.