First run in Worlds was a test of my character — hurdler Omar McLeod
JAMAICA’S 110m hurdles champion Omar McLeod had his mettle severely tested yesterday in an incident that could have easily derailed him. McLeod was, however, able to quickly gather himself and is back on track in completing his mission. The 110m hurdler was participating in a World Championships for the first time in his career.
“The guy from Trinidad (Mikel Thomas) hit the first hurdle, hit my arm really bad, and I lost composure. I quickly had to regain composure, got tunnel vision instantly, and I really just wanted to finish,” revealed the former Manchester High and Kingston College star.
McLeod would eventually finish in second position with a time of 13.43 seconds behind Shane Brathwaite of Barbados with 13.28 seconds, and just ahead of home favourite Wenjun Xie in 13.44 seconds.
McLeod the NCAA champion, said the incident was a test of his character to see how strong he was. “I am tough all-round, as you see, and I really wanted to make it to the semi-finals. When I saw that I was a bit behind, I was like top four, play it safe and get to them and make the semi-finals, and I did just that.”
McLeod, 21, who is the former national junior record holder for both the 110m and the 400m hurdles, admitted that the race was probably his worst ever.
“It probably is my worse race, but this is the hurdles and stuff like this happens. You have to go in mentally prepared and tough, and if this happens, you must know how to deal with it,” he said.
McLeod, who defeated Jamaica’s 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist, Hansle Parchment, to be crowned Jamaican champion, said he was anxious to get his first race out of the way.
“I am feeling really good. I really just wanted to come out and get this first run under my belt. Obviously there were lots of flaws in the race as you guys saw,” he admitted.
McLeod continued: “This is my first World Championships and I was just excited. I was really nervous and I really wanted to get this first run in, feel the stadium, the atmosphere and get acquainted with it.
The confident McLeod holds the second-fastest time in the world with 12.97 seconds behind Cuban Orlando Ortega (12.94), but the Cuban is absent from the Championship and McLeod is now claiming that he is the man to beat.
“Obviously,” he said confidently with a smile, “I have the fastest time here, so obviously, I am the man to beat, but I try not to think about it too much. All I want to do is try to run the same race I have been running all season…execute.”
“I am not here to think about any of the other athletes. Everybody wants it, so it’s going to boil down to who has the perfect race on the day and who wants it the most. I am really just trying to do that,” said McLeod.