Emotional win for McLeod

Jamaica's Olympic and World 110 metres hurdles champion, Omar McLeod, revealed that he has been struggling with several injuries after a narrow win in the event at yesterday's IAAF Diamond League meet in Shanghai, China.

McLeod held off Spain's Orlando Ortega to cross the line in 13.16 seconds. Ortega was just behind in 13.17, while Russian Sergey Shubenkov took third in 13.27. Jamaica's Commonwealth Games champion, Ronald Levy (13.33), and silver medallist Hansle Parchment (13.48) were fourth and fifth, respectively.

It was McLeod's third straight win at the Shanghai meet and he told the IAAF website that he was "overcome with emotion".

"I have been battling a lot of injuries - a hamstring strain, shin splints - and a month ago, I picked up a slight abductor problem. Today, I was running on blind trust, so it was great to come out here and complete the three-peat. This meet loves the hurdles and their hurdlers," the 24-year-old said.

McLeod scored the only win on a fairly good day for Jamaica. There were, however, second-place finishes for hurdler Janieve Russell, triple jumper Shanieke Ricketts, and shot putter Danniel Thomas-Dodd. Shericka Jackson (200m) and Kimberly Williams (triple jump) had third-place finishes.

There was a lot of focus on McLeod following his withdrawal, because of injury, from the Doha meet on May 5. Despite not having a smooth race, he was too good for his opponents.

Russell, a winner in Doha, ran her heart out but lost out in a tight finish involving Olympic champion Delilah Muhammad. The American held off Russell to win in a world-leading 53.77 seconds. Russell clocked a personal best 53.78. Canada's Sage Watson did a season's best 55.23 for third. Jamaica's Leah Nugent was sixth in 56.54.

Jackson clocked 22.34 in the 200m behind winner Shaunae Miller Uibo of The Bahamas (22.06) and Dutchwoman Dafne Schippers, 22.34.

Thomas-Dodd, fresh off her gold at the Commonwealth Games, threw 18.70m in the shot put, won by World champion Lijiao Gong of China, with a world-leading 19.99m. American Raven Saunders, 18.63m, was third.

Ricketts did a season's best 14.55 metres in the triple jump for second while Williams produced 14.35m for third. Colombia's Caterine Ibarguen won with a distance of 14.80m.

Jamaica's Javon Francis was ninth in 47.06 seconds in the men's 400m. Steven Gardiner of The Bahamas captured the event in 43.99.

There was a major upset in the men's 100m. World champion Justin Gatlin of the United States slipped in his blocks and had to settle for seventh in 10.20. Little-known Briton, Reece Prescod, ran on strongly from Lane Nine to win in 10.04 from the Chinese pair, Bingtian Su (10.05) and Zhenye Xie, 10.17.