Excitement growing for hurdler McLeod

Former Manchester High and Kingston College athlete, Omar McLeod, is looking forward to big performances at the upcoming National Senior Championships.

McLeod picked up this season's indoor 60 metres and outdoor 110 metres hurdles National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) titles and is ready to compete with senior athletes for the first time.

The University of Arkansas student gave his team solid points at the NCAA championships last week, taking the 110m hurdles in a wind-aided 13.01 seconds and running the opening leg on the winning 4x100m, team. He also ran a leg on the 4x400m team which placed sixth.

very optimistic

McLeod is very optimistic about his chances next weekend where he is expected to meet the likes of defending champion Andrew Riley and Olympic bronze medallist, Hansle Parchment.

"I am really excited to return home and run against some of our senior athletes who I look up to and have high respect for. I know this will definitely bring out the best in me and I am excited to see what I will do when I line up against the big boys," McLeod said just after the completion of the 4x400 metres last Friday in Eugene, Oregon.

McLeod (13.21) is the top seed going into the championships ahead of Riley 13.28, Parchment 13.40 and Dwight Thomas 13.42.