Levy humbled by hurdles performances

Several weeks ago, Ronald Levy clocked a personal best of 13.33 seconds in the men's 110m hurdles for the University of Technology at the Penn Relays. Since then, this has been changed dramatically as the Stephen Francis and Brigitte Foster-Hylton-coached athlete has made his appearance on the world stage in fine style.

Levy showed signs of his big improvement at the UTech Classic when he got the better of Hansle Parchment, an athlete who has won medals at both the World Senior Championships and the Olympic Games.

Two weeks ago, at the IAAF Diamond League in Eugene, Oregon, he showed that his win over Parchment was no fluke, as, despite hitting the second and fourth hurdle, he ran a strong race, pressuring Olympic champion Omar McLeod to finish second in a personal best of 13.10 seconds, the second best time in the world so far this year, and in the process turning back some seasoned campaigners in the event.

COMMANDING WIN

On Saturday at the JN Racers Grand Prix before a jam-packed crowd, it was another acid test for Levy and he passed it with flying colours. He had a commanding win, turning back Parchment once again, and the United States' Devon Allen, whom he defeated in Eugene to record a good 13.17 seconds as Allen was second in 13.26, with Parchment further back in third, in 13.34 seconds.

However, the soft-spoken Levy is not getting carried away, and he was very humble about his performance. "I just came out there to see where I am before the trials; going there with a set mind," he said.

Asked about his season's big improvement, his response was: "I am just doing what I have to do; listen to my coaches, Stephen Francis and Brigitte Foster-Hylton, and I just want to do well at the trials and then take it from there," he said.

McLeod will definitely be a big favourite to win at the National Senior Championships, should he choose to compete, but could be surprised by Levy, who seems to have a lot in the tank, and with the likes of Francis and Foster-Hylton guiding him, there is no better combination in the world to help pull off a coup in this event on the world stage.