MCLEOD COULD BECOME OUR BEST EVER ’4-HURDLER’

It’s been eight long years since Danny McFarlane – 400-metre runner turned 400-metre hurdler – took home the silver medal at the Olympics in Athens, Greece emulating the performance of perhaps the Jamaica’s best ever 400-metre hurdler Winthrop Graham, who took the silver in Barcelona 12 years earlier. Four years later in Beijing, the 36-year-old McFarlane (48.20), almost medaled again. He finished fourth behind a trio of Americans Angelo Taylor, Kerron Clement and Bershawn Jackson respectively. Markino Buckley, another Jamaican was seventh in 48.50.

Since that time Buckley through injury, faded away somewhat and is now trying to mount  comeback. Others like Isa Phillips, Leeford Green and Josef Robertson have either flattered to deceive or failed to live up to expectations for a variety of reasons. On Friday night at the ISSA Grace Kennedy Boys and Girls Athletic Championships at the National Stadium, Jamaica may have seen the next great one-lap hurdler, one that not only challenge Graham’s national record of 47.60s, but could go on to be even greater.

I might be caught up in the emotion of the moment but Omar McLeod, former Manchester High standout who now represents Kingston College is the first ever high school 400-metre hurdler in the 103-year history of Champs to break the 50-second barrier when he shattered Robertson’s record of 50.24s and took the gold. It was the second and more impressive of two records the youngster set on Friday as earlier in the day, McLeod shattered the 110 hurdles record with a 13.42-second run in the semi-finals of the Class One event.

I spoke with the very likable young man earlier this season after he competed at the Central Hurdles and Relays Development Meet at GC Foster College. I asked him what his goals were for the season and he calmly stated that he planned to break the 50-second barrier in the longer hurdle event this season. Having consistently stopped at 51 seconds throughout the season I didn’t doubt his ambitions but wondered whether or not he could accomplish this goal at Champs where he was down to compete in multiple events. Friday night he answered those questions with magnificent emphasis; 49.98s that stunned the thousands gathered at the stadium on the penultimate day of the championships.

Friday was a day when several records were either broken or equalled at Champs – Jevaughn Matherson, McLeod’s teammate ran an impressive 10.86s easing off at the end to win the Boys Class 3 100m and Kimone Shaw from St. Jago ran 11.75s to break the Class 4 Girls 100 metres, but no record broken on the day or during these championships will eclipse McLeod’s performance. Everyone there sensed the moment. The crowed ‘oohed’ and ‘awed’ when the official time was announced, a gaggle of photographers snapped away feverishly at the proud KC hurdler as he posed beside the in-field clock that displayed his new record time. Even the Champs mascot came over for a chance to bask in McLeod’s shine.

Already a solid hurdler McLeod has so much room for improvement. Over time his technique will improve as will his strength and speed, all of which are impressive now at this level. If he can make those improvements incrementally over the next few years and remain healthy, who knows what he will be able to accomplish.

Coach KC Graham believes McLeod has the potential to take it the the very highest level. “Definitely,” he said, when I asked him if his charge could very well be the best high school hurdler and potentially Jamaica’s best ever. “Based on the time he ran he has to be. He has great work ethic. He never complains he just does the work. He definitely has what it takes to go all the way.”

49.98 is a long way off 47.60 but based on what I have seen from this 18-year-old student athlete, that gap might not be as far as it seems.