#ReturnToLondon: Omar McLeod begins quest for World Champs gold

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer 

Reigning Olympic champion Omar McLeod will begin his quest for a gold medal when he competes in the heat of the men’s 110 hurdles at the IAAF World Championships in London today. 

McLeod, a former Kingston College and Manchester High star, is the fastest man in the event this year with a time of 12.90 seconds. 

He will be joined by the fast improving Ronald Levy who is ranked third in the world this year with a time of 13.10 and veteran and Olympic bronze medallist Hansle Parchment. 

Meanwhile, World Championships bronze medallist Shericka Jackson will lead Jamaica’s charge for a medal when she competes in the heats of the women’s 400m. 

Jackson, who is the club mate of Olympic sprint double champion Elaine Thompson, has run a season’s best of 51.06 seconds. 

She also won a bronze medal in the 400m at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016 

Jackson will be joined in the heats by compatriots, Stephanie McPherson, veteran Novlene Williams Mills and Chris-Ann Gordon. 

National champion Jaheel Hyde along with Ricardo Cunningham and Kemar Mowatt will contest the heats of the men’s 400m hurdles. 

Schedule:

Men’s 400m Hurdles 5:04 a.m. 
Jaheel Hyde 
Kemar Mowatt 
Ricardo Cunningham   

Women’s 400m 5:55a.m. 
Shericka Jackson 
Stephanie McPherson 
Novlene Williams Mills 
Chris-Ann Gordon 

Men’s 110m hurdles 7:15a.m. 
Omar McLeod 
Ronald Levy 
Hansle Parchment 

Athletes' profiles:

Name: Omar McLeod 
Date of Birth: April 25, 1994 
Event: 110m hurdles 
Season’s Best: 12.90 and personal best 12.90 
Schools: Kingston College and Manchester High 
Accolades: 2016 Olympic Games 110m hurdles champion. 

Name: Ronald Levy 
Date of Birth: December 30, 1992 
Event: 110m Hurdles 
Season’s best: 13.10; personal best: 13.10 
Schools: Rusea’s High and St Elizabeth Technical High 
Coach: Stephen Francis 
Track Club: MVP 

Name: Hansle Parchment 
Date of Birth: June 17, 1990 
Event: 110m hurdles 
Season’s best: 13.19; personal best: 12.94 
Schools: Morant Bay High and Kingston College 
Coach: Fitz Coleman 
Accolade: 2012 Olympic Games Bronze medallist. 

Name: Jaheel Hyde 
Date of Birth: February 02, 1997 
Event: 400m hurdles 
Seasonal Best: 400mH- 48:52; Personal Best: 400mH- 48:52 
School: Wolmer’s Boys High 
Coach: Bertland Cameron 
Track Club: Cameron Blazers 
Accolades: Two-time World Junior 400m champion and World Youth 110m Hurdles champion. 

Name: Kemar Mowatt 
Date of birth: March 12, 1995 
Event: 400m hurdles 
Season’s best: 48.49
Personal best: 48.49 
Schools:  Munro College and University of Arkansas

Name:Ricardo Cunningham   
Date of birth: April 10, 1982 
Event: 400m hurdles 
Season’s best: 48.83
Personal best: 48.83 
Club: Cameron Blazers 

Name: Shericka Jackson 
Date of Birth: July 16, 1994 
Event: 400m 
Season's best: 51.06
Personal best: 49.83 
School: Vere Technical High 
Coach: Stephen Francis 
Track Club: MVP 
Accolades: 2016 Olympic Games 400m bronze medallist, World Championships bronze medallist. 

Name: Stephanie McPherson 
Date of Birth: November 25, 1988 
Events: 400m. 
Seasonal best: 400m- 51.45 and personal best 49.92 
School: Mountain Grace High 
Coach: Stephen Francis 

Name: Novlene Williams Mills 
Date of Birth: April 26, 1982 
Event: 400m 
Season’s best: 50.54; personal best: 49.63 
School: Ferncourt High 

Name: Chris-Ann Gordon 
Date of Birth: September 18, 1994 
Event: 400m 
Season’s best: 50.13
Personal best: 50.13 
School: Holmwood Technical High 
Accolades: 2017 NCAA Division 1 400m champion, Pan American Games Silver medallist