Stars ignite male sprint hurdles

Undoubtedly, Omar McLeod is the best male sprint hurdler athlete this season after clocking the four fastest times in the world in the men's 110 metres hurdles.

His 12.98 seconds, done at the Shanghai Diamond League, tops the list.

McLeod is also the only athlete to have gone sub-13 seconds this season, and when he lines up at next week's Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Senior Championships, he is expected to win and successfully defend the title he won last year.

SOMETHING SPECIAL

McLeod, who became the first Jamaican male at the senior level to win a global sprint hurdles title after winning the World Indoor 60 metres hurdle crown in Portland, Oregon, could do something special.

He will be eyeing the national record of 12.94 seconds set in 2014 at the Stade de France by Hansle Parchment.

While McLeod will start favourite to go all the way, he cannot afford to be complacent as Olympic Games bronze medallist Parchment is waiting to pounce.

Parchment, who will be seeking his first national title, has shown that he is a big-day performer.

The fight for third place should be an interesting affair as the likes of Deuce Carter, Andrew Riley, and Tyler Mason are expected to have a thrilling battle for that spot.

Riley, who won the title in 2013 and 2014, has not been at his best all season due to injury.

A season's best of 13.48 seconds done at the Racers Grand Prix Meet makes him the fifth-fastest Jamaican going into the Championships.

Carter had good runs at the Jamaica Invitational International and at the Racers Grand Prix meet where he did 13.20 seconds.

World Junior silver medallist Mason, with a season's best 13.46 seconds done at the Racers Grand Prix, will also be eyeing a top-three finish.