Jamaican can dominate sprint hurdles - McLeod

SHANGHAI, China:

With three of the top hurdlers in the world, Jamaica is steadily developing a reputation as an international sprint-hurdles powerhouse.

Current headliner, Omar McLeod, the world indoor champion, has made all the early noise this season, heading into this morning's Diamond League in Shanghai, going into the event with the two fastest times this year - 13.05 and 13.08, registering the fastest time (7.41), while competing indoors.

However, he is not the only one flying the Jamaican flag in the event.

National record holder (12.94) Hansle Parchment has secured medals in the 110m hurdles at two of the last three major international championships.

McLeod believes that with Commonwealth Games champion and World Championships finalist Andrew Riley, working his way to full fitness and youngsters such as world junior silver medallist Tyler Mason and youth Olympic and World Youth Championships champion over 110m hurdles, Jaheel Hyde, who has since been focusing on the 400m hurdles, also showing tremendous ability, Jamaica is poised to challenge the historic dominance of the Americans in this event.

"It would definitely be great to have that sort of dominance. That would be a plus," McLeod said.

"I'm happy that we have other stars and up-and-coming talent, like myself, in the sprint hurdles. It makes it a lot more exciting. You wouldn't want to be the only hurdler dominating the country. You want other athletes to join you and make history along with you," he told STAR Sports.

"Hansle Parchment is like my big brother and I am looking for others like Tyler Mason. He is getting into it and improving all the time, and Andrew Riley is getting into shape, and there are others so we have a great set of guys coming up and I am excited about that," said McLeod.