Russell returns with scorcher at Youngster Goldsmith Classics

Photo: Calabar’s Dejour Russell wins the Class 1 Boys 110m hurdles finals at the Youngster Goldsmith Classics at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Jamaican high school track and field fans who had been anxiously awaiting the return of Calabar’s Dejour Russell, were treated to a fine display of sprint high hurdling on Saturday.

Participating for the first time this season, at the Youngster Goldsmith Classics, last year’s Class 2 champion and huge favourite for the Champs 2017 title in the Class 1 Boys 110m hurdles, won a controlled race in his heat in the morning. He then returned in the afternoon to dismiss the field, winning the final comfortably in a quick 13.45s.

Speaking after his race Russell spoke about the time he ran, “I am not surprised, I have been training for this so I expected it, but whatever came, came.”

“Nothing is easy, I respect all my competitors and I thank them for pushing me. I will return to training and prepare for my next competition,” Russell stated.

But while the fans were happy to see the return of Russell to competitive action, they were still left to wait on the return of the other Calabar “big guns” Christopher Taylor and Michael Stephens, who were no-shows yet again.