Jamaican McLeod wins 110 metres hurdles gold

By Stabroek News On In Sports |
Jamaica’s Omar McLeod, right on his way to becoming the first athlete from his country to win a gold medal in the hurdles event at the Olympic Games.
Jamaica’s Omar McLeod, right on his way to becoming the first athlete from his country to win a gold medal in the hurdles event at the Olympic Games.

RIO DE JANEIRO, (Reuters) – Jamaican Omar McLeod raced to victory in 13.05 seconds yesterday to become his country’s first ever Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion.

Jamaica’s Omar McLeod, right on his way to becoming the first athlete from his country to win a gold medal in the hurdles event at the Olympic Games.
Jamaica’s Omar McLeod, right on his way to becoming the first athlete from his country to win a gold medal in the hurdles event at the Olympic Games.

Cuban-born Orlando Ortega was second in 13.17 to take silver for Spain, while Frenchman Dimitri Bascou claimed bronze in 13.24 ahead of compatriot Pascal Martinot-Lagarde.

It was the slowest winning time in an Olympic final since Canada’s Mark McKoy won gold in 13.12 seconds in Barcelona in 1992.

With the exception of the 1980 Moscow Games, which they boycotted, the United States had never previously failed to provide a medallist in the 120-year history of the event at the Olympics.