Ronald Levy shaking off the rust
Published:Sunday | March 19, 2023 | 1:42 AMHubert Lawrence - Gleaner Writer
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RONALD LEVY has had his fair share of ups and downs. In 2021, he sprinted to third place in the 110-metre hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics, only to lose his 2022 outdoor season to injury. He came back to competition last Saturday at the GC Foster...
RONALD LEVY has had his fair share of ups and downs.
In 2021, he sprinted to third place in the 110-metre hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics, only to lose his 2022 outdoor season to injury. He came back to competition last Saturday at the GC Foster Classics and though his time in the men’s 100 was modest, his return was an important milestone.
The Westmoreland native welcomed the opportunity to race again.
“I’m really glad to get that out of the way. It felt like the first time mi a run, but I’m just glad to get off the rust and get back in because, wow, that one did rough,” he remarked breathlessly after a time of 10.96 seconds.
Levy, who ran that distance in 10.17 seconds to take the silver for the University of Technology at the 2017 Intercollegiate Championships, is ready for the work he must do to reclaim his place amongst Jamaica’s best hurdlers.
“I’m trying to get the reps in and focus on what I need to do but I’m just glad to be competing.”
In an oblique reference to his time, he said, “it’s not how I wanted that one to go, but I’m glad I’m competing.”
2017 INJURY
The 30-year-old MVP Track Club standout was struck down by injury at the 2017 World Championships but bounced back to win the Commonwealth Games the following year, edging home ahead of the erstwhile Hansle Parchment.
In 2021, and with Parchment winning the gold medal, Levy ran strongly and captured the bronze, in 13.10 seconds just 0.05 off his personal best.
He ran his second 100 metre of the season last night at the John Wolmer Speed Fest inside the National Stadium.
His main objective is to regain the form that gave him a lifetime best of 13.05 seconds, a performance which makes him the fourth fastest Jamaican of all time. Only Olympic champions Omar McLeod and Parchment and the man who succeeded him as Commonwealth champion, Rasheed Broadbell, lie ahead at 12.90, 12.94 and 12.99 seconds, respectively.
Asked when he expects to face the starter in his pet event, the 110-metre hurdles, he replied, “next month. Hopefully I’m healthy. I’m training, so I just want to see how next month goes.”