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‘Can’t read too much into it’

Parchment still cautious about season despite reclaiming world lead

Published:Sunday | May 22, 2022 | 12:11 AMDaniel Wheeler - Staff Reporter

Despite setting a world-leading time in the 110m hurdles for the second time this season, Tokyo Olympic champion Hansle Parchment said he is not going to get complacent about his progress with fierce competition expected at the National Trials next month.

Parchment pushed to victory, edging former World and Olympic champion Omar McLeod, clocking 13.09 seconds in yesterday’s Diamond League meet in Birmingham, England.

McLeod, who finished second in a season’s best of 13.17, was leading the race but clipped the sixth hurdle. Parchment took full advantage of the blunder.

It was a victory that he enjoyed; however, he is not taking his early-season form for granted.

“As Olympic champion, I do not feel any pressure but I just tried to execute my race but also to feel less tense and help others to relax. I am pleased with a world lead but it is very early in the season, so you can’t read too much into it at the moment,” Parchment said.

Parchment said he enjoyed his battle with national teammate McLeod and is eyeing a podium sweep at the World Championships for Jamaica.

“It is awesome to have my compatriots here and we can talk to each other and have some fun. We are all teammates and we will be looking for a 1-2-3 at the World Championships,” Parchment said.

FOURTH STRAIGHT WIN

Parchment said that the Birmingham meet would be his final race before next month’s national trials. It is Parchment’s fourth straight win this season.

Parchment clocked 13.20 on April 23, which was the fastest time in the world until America’s Trey Cunningham clocked 13.10 on April 30.

There were other Jamaicans on show at the Birmingham Diamond League meeting with Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist, Shericka Jackson, finishing second in the women’s 100m, clocking 11.12. Jackson was narrowly beaten to the tape by reigning 200m champion, Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain, who clocked 11.11.

Jackson recovered from a poor start and closed in on Asher-Smith but ran out of real estate. Great Britain’s Daryll Neita was third in 11.14. Jackson said that despite the poor start, she is confident about her progress.“It was actually a good race. I never got the start I wanted but it’s all a work in progress and I’m definitely happy,” Jackson said.

“This is not my type of weather but it’s my job when I’m competing and I just came here focused on what I needed to do.”

After false starts saw American Trayvon Bromwell and Great Britain’s Zharnel Hughes disqualified, former world 100m champion, Yohan Blake, finished second in 10.18 in his Diamond League season debut, behind winner Aaron Brown of Canada, who clocked 10.13. Brown’s national teammate, Jerome Blake, was third in 10.20.

Blake said the false starts did not play a factor in his performance and that he is still determined to get back to his best.

“The two false starts were tough but I am used to dealing with these things,” Blake said.

“I am feeling good after coming back. I want to stay hard to beat and move from being second fastest in the world to being the fastest. I have been here before and I am used to the pressure.”

Meanwhile, Pan American champion Natoya Goule was third in the women’s 800 metre, clocking 2:00.13 minutes in her Diamond League season debut.

Olympic 4x400m bronze medallist Janieve Russell finished seventh in the women’s 400m hurdles, clocking 56.21.

daniel.wheeler@gleanerjm.com