FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – World Indoor 60m hurdles sprint champion Omar McLeod sizzled to a stunning personal best of 9.99 seconds to win the men’s 100m at the Arkansas John McDonnell Outdoor Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Saturday (23).
Running in a legal 2.0 m/s wind, the Jamaican sprint hurdler used a fast start and very good transition midway through the competition to separate himself from the field and become the second sub-10 seconds runner for his country this season.
Hard to believe that I haven't ran this event in 5 years and my personal best prior to this was… https://t.co/lLKbZREAMh
— Omar McLeod™ (@Warrior_omz) April 24, 2016
McLeod’s time is the fifth fastest this season behind Qatar’s Femi Ogunode, who currently heads the world list with his 9.91 Asian record and career best.
The 22-year-old McLeod is known more for his hurdling abilities, but does have strong leg speed.
His personal best before then was 11.02 secs.
His 12.97 second over the 110m hurdles is the No. 15 fastest time on the world all-time list.
McLeod, who became the first athlete in history to run sub-10 seconds for the 100m and 13 seconds for the 110m hurdles early defeated a number of collegiate athletes who all went below 10.20 seconds.
“Hard to believe that I haven’t ran this event in five years and my personal best prior to this was 11.02 wind-legal.
“So with that said, this race kinda means a lot. Finally trusting my abilities!” commented McLeod on social media.
Markesh Woodson of Missouri was second to McLeod in 10.13 with John Teeters of Oklahoma State third in 10.16, Wallace Spearmon followed next in 10.18 Marqueze Washington of Arkansas, 10.19 and his teammate Jarrion Lawson, 10.19.
Meanwhile, Spearmon clocked a wind-aided 20.40 (2.8 m/s) to win the men’s 200m.
