Sunday, May 15, 2016
SHANGHAI, China (CMC) — Jamaican Omar McLeod survived two false starts to run his third straight world-leading time of the year in the men’s sprint hurdles, while St Lucian Levern Spencer and Bahamian Shaunae Miller also scored victories, in the Shanghai Diamond League meet here yesterday.
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| Jamaica's 22-year-old McLeod on Left |
The 22-year-old McLeod watched on as Cuban Orlando Ortega and then World record holder, American Aries Merritt, were dumped from the final event of the programme, for their premature reaction to the gun.
However, McLeod held his nerves to storm from the blocks on the third attempt at the race, dismissing his opposition in 12.98 seconds, which was just 0.01 outside the meet record set by former World and Olympic champion Liu Xiang four years ago.
Fellow Jamaican Hansle Parchment finished second in 13.12 seconds, while Xie Wenjun of China claimed third in 13.34. “Before the race I expected to run a sub-13 time. However, after two false starts it got a little cold and I told myself to stay focused and run safe,” said McLeod, who clocked 13.05 in the opening Diamond League meet in Doha just over a week ago.
“Because of this I did not expect to run this time. It’s the first time I have been in a race with two false starts. This is something you never experience in training.”
Spencer kept the Caribbean in the spotlight when she leaped 1.94 metres to win the women’s high jump.
The 31-year-old, who won gold at the Pan American Games in Toronto last year, finished ahead of Nadezhda Dusanova of Uzbekistan, who also measured 1.94. Croatian Ana Simic picked up third in 1.92.
There was disappointment for the two other Caribbean competitors, however, with Antiguan Priscilla Frederick finishing seventh in 1.85 metres and St Lucian Jeannelle Scheper eighth, also with 1.85.
In the women’s 400 metres, World silver medallist Miller dismissed her field to win in 50.45 seconds. more
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