McLeod back to his best in Hungary Grand Prix

Olympic 110-metres hurdles champion Omar McLeod is back to his best after a rare defeat at the Paris Diamond League last Saturday, reports Jamaica Gleaner.

McLeod won his pet event in a meet record 12.96 seconds yesterday at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial Athletics Grand Prix meet in Hungary. After finishing at the back of the field (seventh) in Paris McLeod pointed to a calf injury, but on Tuesday he closed his second sub-13 seconds this season and in the process erased the meet record of 13.15 set in 2012 by American Jason Richardon. Sergey Shubenkov, the 2015 World champion, was second in a season's best of 13.01 while American Aries Merritt was third, also in a season's best 13.11. Jamaica's Andrew Riley was sixth in 13.39.

Two other Jamaicans, Remona Burchell and Chrisann Gordon, had top three finishes at the meet. Burchell (11.15) was second in the women’s 100m.

Gordon was third in the 400m in 51.05 as Olympian champion Shaunae Miller Uibo of the Bahamas clocked a meet record 49.86 to win ahead of American Courtney Okolo, 50.41. The 50.34 meet record was set by Jamaica's Shericka Williams in 2012.

The Bahamas completed a 400m double as Steven Gardiner won the men's event in 44.61. American Justin Gatlin won a close 100m race in 9.98 just edging out South Africa's Akani Simbine (9.99) with another American, Isaiah Young, third in 10.10.

In other results, Jamaica's Leah Nugent was fourth in the 400m hurdles in 55.56 while Demar Forbes (7.65m) was seventh in the long jump and Fitzroy Dunkley (46.43) was also seventh in the 400m. Verone Chambers was eighth in the Women's 400 metres in 54.06 seconds.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s athlete, Blessing Okagbare has qualified   for the London 2017 World Athletics  Championships  after  jumping   6.77m to finish in the  second place  at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial Athletics Grand Prix meet in Hungary on Tuesday.

The 2008 Olympics bronze medallist  (long jump) secured qualification for  the 100m and 200m  races of for next month’s London 2017 in June.

The  Sapele-born sprinter/jumper came to Hungary with a 6.52m personal season’s best achieved in Eugene, Oregon, USA,  last month. She was the number two ranked long jumper in Africa so far this term  behind compatriot Ese Brume,  whose 6.64m was, until Tuesday,   was the best mark by an African in the event.

Okagbare  also won the 100m event  on Tuesday  with a time of  11.11 seconds, her second fastest time of the season. She won ahead of Remona Burchell of Jamaica (11.15) and Nigerian-born American Morolake Akinosun (11.19),  who came second and third respectively

Meanwhile,  2014  Commonwealth Games long jump gold  medallist  Brume and Africa’s undisputed sprint hurdles  queen Tobi Amusan   failed to make the list of confirmed athletes for the eighth leg of the Diamond League  in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.

 

McLeod back to his best in Hungary Grand Prix

Olympic 110-metres hurdles champion Omar McLeod is back to his best after a rare defeat at the Paris Diamond League last Saturday, reports Jamaica Gleaner. McLeod won his pet event in a meet record 12.96 seconds yesterday at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial Athletics Grand Prix meet in Hungary. After finishing at the back of the field (seventh) in Paris McLeod pointed to a calf injury, but on Tuesday he closed his second sub-13 seconds this season and in the process erased the meet record of 13.15 set in 2012 by American Jason Richardon. Sergey Shubenkov, the 2015 World champion, was second in a seasons best of 13.01 while American Aries Merritt was third, also in a seasons best 13.11. Jamaicas Andrew Riley was sixth in 13.39. Two other Jamaicans, Remona Burchell and Chrisann Gordon, had top three finishes at the meet. Burchell (11.15) was second in the womens 100m. Gordon was third in the 400m in 51.05 as Olympian champion Shaunae Miller Uibo of the Bahamas clocked a meet record 49.86 to win ahead of American Courtney Okolo, 50.41. The 50.34 meet record was set by Jamaicas Shericka Williams in 2012. The Bahamas completed a 400m double as Steven Gardiner won the mens event in 44.61. American Justin Gatlin won a close 100m race in 9.98 just edging out South Africas Akani Simbine (9.99) with another American, Isaiah Young, third in 10.10. In other results, Jamaicas Leah Nugent was fourth in the 400m hurdles in 55.56 while Demar Forbes (7.65m) was seventh in the long jump and Fitzroy Dunkley (46.43) was also seventh in the 400m. Verone Chambers was eighth in the Womens 400 metres in 54.06 seconds. Meanwhile, Nigerias athlete, Blessing Okagbare has qualified for the London 2017 World Athletics Championships after jumping 6.77m to finish in the second place at the Gyulai Istvan Memorial Athletics Grand Prix meet in Hungary on Tuesday. The 2008 Olympics bronze medallist (long jump) secured qualification for the 100m and 200m races of for next months London 2017 in June. The Sapele-born sprinter/jumper came to Hungary with a 6.52m personal seasons best achieved in Eugene, Oregon, USA, last month. She was the number two ranked long jumper in Africa so far this term behind compatriot Ese Brume, whose 6.64m was, until Tuesday, was the best mark by an African in the event. Okagbare also won the 100m event on Tuesday with a time of 11.11 seconds, her second fastest time of the season. She won ahead of Remona Burchell of Jamaica (11.15) and Nigerian-born American Morolake Akinosun (11.19), who came second and third respectively Meanwhile, 2014 Commonwealth Games long jump gold medallist Brume and Africas undisputed sprint hurdles queen Tobi Amusan failed to make the list of confirmed athletes for the eighth leg of the Diamond League in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday.