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Ralford Mullings Sees Year of Growth Rewarded with First National Discus Title
Written by Leighton Levy. Posted in Athletics. | 29 June 2025 | 257 Views
Tags: Jamaica National Championships, Ralford Mullings

For Ralford Mullings, 2025 has been a year of breakthroughs, hard lessons, and personal evolution—culminating in his first-ever national discus title at the Jamaica National Championships on Saturday evening at the National Stadium.

The 23-year-old University of Oklahoma standout hurled the discus 65.82m to top a high-profile field that included seasoned veterans Fedrick Dacres and Chad Wright. Though the mark was below his season's best, Mullings called it a “subpar day” and still left Kingston with a valuable prize: the symbol of his rise in the Jamaican throwing ranks.

“We have rough days, rough meets, and today was just one of those,” Mullings said after the competition. “But I can't complain—65.82 for my worst mark of the year? That's pretty good.”

It was the capstone to a collegiate season that saw the former Kingston College athlete establish himself among the world’s elite. On June 13 at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Mullings captured the NCAA title with a massive throw of 69.31m—a personal best and a mark that confirmed his readiness for the global stage.

His 2025 campaign has been marked by consistent performances above 66 metres, including 69.13m to win the Texas Relays in March and 67.21m at the NCAA West First Rounds in May. Beyond his exploits in the discus circle, Mullings also posted a personal best in the shot put of 19.56m at the Michael Johnson Invitational in April, highlighting his overall development as a thrower.

But for Mullings, the story of 2025 isn't just told in distances. It's in discipline, sacrifice, and a renewed mental approach to the sport.

“It’s been a good year. We had a lot of growth—from the weight room to the ring, and just personal growth,” he reflected. “I think it’ll be a good year. We’ll see.”

One looming challenge is maintaining his form through the long season. With the World Athletics Championships scheduled for September in Tokyo, Mullings will need to manage the physical and mental toll of a campaign that began back in March.

“There’s some collision,” he admitted. “With Nationals being in June and Worlds in September, it’s definitely something to manage. But I’ll be prepared.”

Between now and then, he’s planning to compete at the Prefontaine Classic, one of the final tune-ups before Tokyo. However, he’s also balancing athletics with an internship in Industrial and Systems Engineering, forcing him to be strategic with his schedule.

“That's in the works—I’ll figure it out,” he said, showing the same calm and composure that’s carried him through a career-defining season.