2 weeks ago
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With the exception of the national championships, Jamaican sprint hurdler Omar McLeod has not competed in Jamaica since leaving high school in 2013, a fact he is excited to change when he lines up today at Grand Slam Track (GST) inside the National Stadium.
McLeod has been absent from the Jamaican circuit since his days representing Manchester High and then Kingston College (KC) at the ISSA GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics Championships.
The 2016 Olympic gold medallist and 2017 World champion said he is looking forward to running in front of the Jamaican crowd once again.
“It feels good to be back especially because this is my first pre-trial race back home and not having to deal with the nerves of making a team or anything like that,” McLeod told The Gleaner in a pre-race interview.
He explained the reason behind his absence from the Jamaican circuit has been due to race obligations and scheduling conflicts with his training.
“Previously throughout my career, I have had obligations with Diamond League and stuff like that, so it just didn’t work with my scheduling. I just show up to the meets that I had been scheduled for and when trials came around, I came and competed at trials and it was business as usual.”
McLeod has been scheduled as one of the GST challengers in the men’s short hurdles race group and will compete in the 110m hurdles and the 100m.
Having already showed his prowess in the sprint hurdles, McLeod is looking forward to the challenge of competing in the 100m.
He believes it is only fitting to do so at the National Stadium where his junior career started.
“I’m especially excited about running the 100m which is something I have always wanted to do. It’s only right that I get to compete and run the 100m in front of my home town and my country,” he said.
“It is such a competitive environment with some of the best athletes in the world, it is almost like you don’t want to put a goal out there, You just want to see where your body will take you and I think that is the goal for most of our athletes.”
MAKING HISTORY
The sprint hurdler is also excited for the opportunity to put his name in the history books by taking part in the inaugural GST season.
He believes GST can grow into a staple competition for the sport and hopes its success can inspire the next generation of athletes.
“I’m very honoured to be a part of its history and I’m very excited that I can do this and do it in my home country and I really hope that young athletes can see that we have a lot of representation,” said McLeod.
McLeod will line up in the 100m hurdles today at 5:42 p.m. before taking on the 100m tomorrow at 3:29 p.m.
English (US) ·