Jamaican Hurdlers Continue to Light up Diamond League Series

The Jamaican sprint hurdles pair of Omar McLeod and World silver medalist Hansle Parchment (photo above) continued to dominate their Diamond League rivals Saturday (14th) in Shanghai, the second stop on the circuit. McLeod, one of the speediest hurdlers in recent times, called on his flat 100m speed to rocket from the blocks ahead of the taller, slow-starting Parchment known for his superb closing speed. As usual, he swiftly closed the gap and pressed McLeod, but he was unable to catch him.

Ahoure gets the better of VCB.

The Shanghai race was a repeat of positions for the top two finishers in Doha, where McLeod ran a world-leading 13.05secs and Parchment clocked 13.10 behind him. On Saturday, McLeod lowered his world lead time to 12.98, just outside his personal best and the meet record 12.97 set by former World and Olympic champion Liu Xiang four years ago. Parchment was second again in 13.12.

China’s Xie Wenjun copped third in 13.34 while former World champion and last year’s winner American David Oliver was fifth. USA’s world record holder Aries Merritt and Spain’s Orlando Ortega false-started and were disqualified.

Miller after taking the 400m.

Meanwhile, following the withdrawal of Shell-Ann Fraser-Pryce from the 200m, Murielle Ahoure of Ivory Coast battled World 200m bronze Veronica Campbell-Brown (VCB) well into the homestretch for victory in 22.72secs. VCB finished in 22.82 for second and her compatriot Anneisha McLaughlin-Whilby placed third in 22.94.

However, VCB was not pleased about her performance after what she described as a good week of training. “I am disappointed,” she told the media. “I wasn’t expecting this. I have been training extremely well, and this result is no indication of the shape I am in.” She also blamed herself for doing too much in training during the week, after clocking 22.29 in a meet before Shanghai.

Bahamian ace World 400m silver medalist Shaunae Miller continued to stamp her class on the track. Last weekend, she ran an impressive 22.14 over 200m at the Jamaica Invitational International world challenge in Kingston. She followed up that victory this weekend with 50.45 in the 400m over Jamaica’s Stephanie McPherson’s season’s best 50.98.and USA’s Natasha Hastings’ 51.10.

Jamaica’s Levy (left) and China’s Peimeng on anchor.

China’s World silver medal men’s sprint relay team of Xie Zhenye, Chen Shiwei, Su Bingtian and Zhang Peimeng did not allow anyone, including the Jamaicans, to beat them on their home turf. The squad defeated the MVP Track Club out of Jamaica after MVP’s Andrew Fisher executed a splendid start that put them in front to Julian Forte to K. Smith through to the final exchange, when anchor Ronald Levy was unable to catch the flying Peimeng. China won in 38.71secs, Jamaica ran second in 38.85 and a mixed international team came in third with 38.85.