With only one medal in the bag for Jamaica coming into Monday, – a bronze by Usain Bolt- the 2016 Olympic 110meters hurdles Champion Omar McLeod was determined to change Jamaica’s status on the medal standings at the IAAF World Championship in London.
He did just that on Monday as he staved off the challenge of Sergey Shubenkov of Russia, to take snatch the gold in the men’s 110 hurdles final, winning the event in 13.04seconds.
Shubenkov, competing as an “Authorised Neutral Athlete’’ after convincing the IAAF that he had been subject to proper doping controls, took the silver medal in 13.14sec, while the bronze medal went to Baji Balazs of Hungary in 13.28 seconds.
McLeod spread his arms wide in celebration as he crossed the finish line, admitted afterwards that he felt huge pressure to succeed after the two Olympic 100m champions Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson were defeated in their respective 100 metres final.
“This one is special, honestly,’’ he said. “There was a lot of pressure coming in but I channeled it positively. It’s totally different to last year where we had Usain and Elaine winning, which I used to propel me.
Added the former Manchester High and Kingston College runner “I didn’t have that this time so I really wanted to come out and shine my own light.’’
The other Jamaican Olympic bronze medalist Hansle Parchment was last in 13.37 seconds.
The 2012 Olympic champion Aries Merritt was denied a fairytale return to London, two years after he underwent a kidney transplant with an organ donated by his sister. Merritt, who has yet to recapture his best form, finished fifth in 13.31sec but said he was just glad to be competing.
Meanwhile Simone Facey, Sashalee Forbes and Jodean Williams will fly the Jamaican flag in the women’s 200 metres heats on Tuesday. Also on Tuesday Leah Nugent, Rhonda Whyte and Ristanana Tracey will feature in the semi-final of the Women’s 400 meters hurdles. Daniel Thomas- Dodd and Gleneve Grange will compete in the qualification round of the women’s 800metres, while on the men’s side Demesh Gaye and Nathon Alllen will line up in the men’s 400 meters final.