Photo: Hansle Parchment (left) and Ronald Levy in a keen battle at the UTech Classics earlier this year. Levy got the better of the Olympic and World Championship medalist and will be looking to do so again this weekend at the National Senior Championships.
Everything ‘hurdles’ should become clear Saturday night, including every single obstacle in the men’s high hurdles race.
It not all clear who will take the top spot at this year national trials, but more likely than not, it will be one of the current big three – 2016’s Olympic Champion and world leader Omar McLeod, World Championship Silver medalist Hansle Parchment and emerging star from the MVP camp, Intercollegiate champion Ronald Levy.
McLeod has not lost in any head-to-head clashes between the three this season and currently leads the world rankings with 13.01 seconds, set at Eugene Diamond League. He also occupies the top three spots based on times and should retain his national title, barring any unforeseen circumstances and book a spot to his second World Championship Games. He was sixth in the Beijing Games final in 13.18 seconds.
Levy has been riding on a very good trail, with an excellent second place run (13.10 PB) to McLeod in Eugene and recently bagged an impressive win at the JN Racers Grand Prix in 13.17 seconds.
Hansle Parchment 13.19 seconds is the only other Jamaican athlete in the top ten of the IAAF rankings and should be in the reckoning for another national title and a third consecutive trip to the IAAF World Championships in London.
Parchment ran 13.03 seconds to finish second to Russia’s Sergy Shubenkov (12.98s) at the 2015 Beijing World Championships.
Andrew Riley 13.44 and Deuce Carter 13.54 seconds are both hopeful at springing a surprise on the top three contenders. Riley may need to dip below or hit close to his 13.14 seconds personal best to book a spot fourth consecutive IAAF World championship Games.
Carter is aiming for a place at this fist World Championship and would want to build on his Rio Olympic experience as he tries to navigate this weekend’s championship. His personal best effort stands at 13.20 seconds done during the 2016 season.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login