Photo: Omar McLeod won the 60m hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in a record time of 7.45s (University if Arkansas photo)
Outstanding Jamaican and Arkansas sophomore hurdler, Omar McLeod, created history on Saturday at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships when he broke Wisconsin’s Reggie Torian 18-year old collegiate record when he won the men’s 60 hurdles in a time of 7.45 seconds.
The defending champion finished well clear of second placed Texas Tech Chris Caldwell in 7.69.
The time also bettered the previous meet record of 7.50 which was set by Florida’s Eddie Lovett in 2013 and is also a new Jamaican record. McLeod has overtaken Maurice Wignall’s who held the record at 7.48 seconds, which he ran to win bronze at the 2004 World Indoors.
“I wasn’t thinking about any record. I wanted to just go out there and have fun and the record came. I’m lost for words,” said McLeod on an ESPN3.com interview after the race.
The leading time indoors this season is 7.45, done by Cuba’s Orlando Ortega.
Natoya Goule, Jamaican national champion, formerly of Manchester High now representing Clemson won the women 800m in a new record of 2:02.64 to finish almost 2 seconds clear of her nearest rival.
The number one seed and 2013 champion earlier ran 2:02.77 seconds on day one to qualify for the Championship finals.
Another defending Champion and number one seed, Alabama University Remona Burchell was once again crowned champion after easily copping the 60m final in 7.12 seconds, just shy of her 7.11 collegiate record. This is her third 60m title for her school as she got the better of Ky Westbrook ( 7.21seconds) of USC uinveristy. Her time was a little off the 7.08 collegiate record she set winning the SEC title two weeks ago.
Burchell was the second fastest Jamaican woman over the distance last year, just behind Olympian Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce.
Senoj-jay Givans running for Texas University was 4th finisher over 60m in a time of 6.58seconds. The event was won by Ronnie Baker of TCU in 6.52 seconds.
High Jumper Christoff Byran, formerly of Wolmers Boys, now at Kansas State University, finished a disappointing 14th with a best jump of 2.15m.
Kemoy Campbell, former Bellfield star, now plying his trade at Arkansas, finished 2nd (13:49.55) in the mens’ 5000m on day one of the Championship, with Longer Jumper Chanice Porter of Georgia University finishing in 7th place with a mark of 6.27m.
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