Roberson captures national discus title

Devin Roberson celebrates with Jefferson City teammate Corey Suttle during his run to the Class 5 state discus title last month in Columbia.
Devin Roberson celebrates with Jefferson City teammate Corey Suttle during his run to the Class 5 state discus title last month in Columbia.

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Devin Roberson is no longer just a state champion in the boys discus. Now he's a national champion.

Roberson bested 44 other competitors Sunday at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, hosted by North Carolina A&T. The Jefferson City High School graduate posted a winning throw of 210 feet, 4 inches.

Jacob Lemmon, of Fort Myers (Fla.) High School, finished a distant second in the competition with a toss of 192-2.

Last year's winner, Sam Welsh of Lunenburg, Mass., had a throw of 203-11. Welsh was named an All-American earlier this month at Harvard.

Roberson, who will compete next season with the Missouri track and field team, was a two-time state champion in the boys discus. He set the all-class record at the Class 5 state track and field championships May 25 in Columbia with a throw of 218-4, winning by more than 30 feet.

During the 2019 season, Roberson broke Jefferson City's school record in the discus multiple times. He first broke the school record of 202-11 - set by Russ Bell in 1999 - with a throw of 205-3 at the Ladue Invitational.

Roberson broke his own record May 11 in the Class 5 District 6 meet at Blue Springs with a throw of 206-1.

At the state meet, Roberson threw 213-10 prior to his final throw of 218-4, breaking the school record four times.