Omar McLeod

Omar McLeod (born 25 April 1994) is a Jamaican professional hurdler and sprinter. He is the current 110 m hurdles Olympic and former World champion. He was NCAA indoor champion in the 60 m hurdles in 2014 and 2015 and outdoor champion in the 110 m hurdles in 2015; he turned professional after the 2015 collegiate season, forgoing his two remaining years of collegiate eligibility. His personal best in the 110 m hurdles (12.90 seconds) ranks him 5th on the world all-time list.

Omar McLeod
Personal information
NationalityJamaican
Born (1994-04-25) 25 April 1994
Clarendon, Jamaica
Sport
SportTrack
Event(s)Hurdles and sprints
College teamArkansas Razorbacks
TeamPUMA[1][2]
Turned pro2015[1][2]
Coached byTony Ross[3]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Jamaica
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de Janeiro110 m hurdles
World Championships
2017 London110 m hurdles
World Indoor Championships
2016 Portland60 m hurdles
CACAC Junior Championships (U20)
2012 San Salvador4×400 m relay
CARIFTA Games (U20)
2013 Kingston400 m hurdles
2012 Hamilton400 m hurdles
2011 Montego Bay400 m hurdles
2013 Kingston110 m hurdles
2011 Montego Bay4×400 m relay
2012 Hamilton4×400 m relay
2011 Montego Bay110 m hurdles

Early career

McLeod was a promising high school athlete, running for Manchester High School and later Kingston College; during his early career, he competed in both the 110 m and 400 m hurdles.[11][12] He represented Jamaica at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Lille, qualifying for the finals in both hurdles events; he placed fourth in the 110 m hurdles and eighth in the 400 m hurdles.[11] At the CARIFTA Games, he won gold in the under-20 400 m hurdles for three consecutive years (2011, 2012 and 2013); he scored another five medals in the 110 m hurdles and 4 × 400 m relay including a relay gold in 2013.[13][14][15] He also won gold in the relay at the 2012 CAC Junior Championships in San Salvador.[14]

In 2013, his final year in high school, McLeod set Jamaican junior records in both the 110 m (13.24 s) and 400 m hurdles (49.98 s) at the Boys and Girls Championships; he was the first Jamaican high schooler to break 50 s in the latter.[11] After graduating from Kingston College, he went to the University of Arkansas on a track and field scholarship.[11]

Collegiate career

McLeod had no experience running indoors before his move to the United States, but adapted rapidly; he won the 60 m hurdles as a freshman at the 2014 NCAA indoor championships in Albuquerque with a personal best 7.57 s in the heats and 7.58 s in the final.[14][16] Outdoors, he placed second in the 110 m hurdles at both the Southeastern Conference (SEC) championships and West Regionals, but pulled a hamstring at the NCAA championships and missed the final.[16]

Omar McLeod racing at the 2016 Doha Diamond League meeting

McLeod returned to competition in 2015; he won the SEC indoor title in a personal best 7.49.[14] At the 2015 NCAA indoor championships he repeated as champion, running 7.55 in the heats and 7.45 in the final; his time in the final was a new Jamaican indoor record, broke Reggie Torian's NCAA record from 1997 and tied with Cuba's Orlando Ortega for the world's fastest time that winter.[14][17][18] Outdoors, McLeod set a personal best of 13.21 at the Drake Relays and won at both the SEC meet and the West Regionals.[14] He entered the NCAA outdoor championships in Eugene as the favorite; he won, running 13.08 in the heats and 13.01 in the final, but both times were wind-aided.[19][20] Only two collegiate athlete, Renaldo Nehemiah in 1979, had run faster in any conditions.[20][21] In addition to his hurdles victory, McLeod ran on the Arkansas relay teams in both the 4 × 100 m relay and the 4 × 400 m relay; Arkansas won the 4 × 100 m in 38.47 and placed sixth in the longer relay.[14][20]

After the 2015 collegiate season McLeod turned professional and signed an endorsement deal with Nike, forgoing his two remaining years as an NCAA athlete; although he stayed at Arkansas to complete his business studies, he lost his eligibility to represent the Arkansas Razorbacks.[12][22]

Professional career

McLeod won the 110 m hurdles at the 2015 Jamaican Championships, defeating national record holder Hansle Parchment in a wind-legal 12.97 and breaking 13 seconds for the first time; the time was world-leading for a week.[23] He made his debut as a professional at the István Gyulai Memorial in Székesfehérvár on 7 July, but pulled up with a cramp and failed to finish.[24]

At the start of the 2016 outdoor season, he ran 9.99 seconds for the 100 metres, becoming the first athlete to complete the 110 m hurdles in under 13 seconds and also break the 10-second barrier.[25]

In the 2016 Rio Olympics, he won Gold in the 110m hurdles.

Based on his outstanding athletic performance, Mcleod was recently crowned Jamaica's 2017 Sportsman of the Year. During 2017, he won six of seven 110m hurdles races, including the World Championships in London.

At the 2019 World Championships, McLeod was disqualified in the final for a lane violation, impeding Orlando Ortega. Ortega was second in the 110 metres hurdles until McLeod stumbled into him and arrested his momentum.[26] After the appeal of the Spanish Federation, the IAAF awarded Ortega with a bronze medal.[27]

Statistics

Information from IAAF profile or Track & Field Results Reporting System unless otherwise noted.[28][29]

Personal bests
EventTime (s)CompetitionVenueDateNotes
60 m6.61Arkansas QualifierFayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.17 February 2017
60 m hurdles7.41World Indoor ChampionshipsPortland, Oregon, U.S.20 March 2016WL, NR [4][5]
100 m9.99John McDonnell InvitationalFayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.23 April 2016+2.0 m/s wind
110 m hurdles12.90Jamaican ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica24 June 2017+0.7 m/s wind, WL, NR, CR [7][8]
200 m20.48Arkansas QualifierFayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.17 February 2017Indoor
400 m47.41Arkansas InvitationalFayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.9 January 2015Indoor
400 m hurdles49.98Jamaican Secondary School ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica15 March 2013NJR, CR [9][10]
4×100 m relay38.17Texas RelaysAustin, Texas, U.S.1 April 2017
4×200 m relay1:20.87Texas RelaysAustin, Texas, U.S.1 April 2017
4×400 m relay3:03.89Drake RelaysDes Moines, Iowa, U.S.26 April 2014
4×400 m relay indoor3:04.94SEC Indoor ChampionshipsCollege Station, Texas, U.S.1 March 2014

Seasonal bests
Year60 metres hurdles110 metres hurdles
2011—14.10
2012—13.83
2013—13.24
20147.5713.44
20157.4512.97
20167.4112.98
20177.4612.90
20187.4613.16
2019—13.07

International championship results
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTimeWindNotes
Representing  Jamaica
2011CARIFTA Games (U20)Montego Bay, Jamaica1st400 m hurdles52.42n/aPB
3rd110 m hurdles14.10−0.8PB
2nd4×400 m relay3:09.41n/aPB
World Youth ChampionshipsVilleneuve-d'Ascq, France4th110 m hurdles13.61+0.1PB
8th400 m hurdles52.82n/a
DNSMedley relay—n/a
2012CARIFTA Games (U20)Hamilton, Bermuda1st400 m hurdles52.35n/a
3rd4×400 m relay3:12.48n/aSB
CACAC Junior Championships (U20)San Salvador, El Salvador1st4×400 m relay3:08.94n/aPB
World Junior ChampionshipsBarcelona, Spain1st (semi 1)4×400 m relay3:08.83n/aQ[note 1], PB
2013CARIFTA Games (U20)Nassau, The Bahamas1st400 m hurdles51.46n/a
2nd110 m hurdles13.57NWI
2015World ChampionshipsBeijing, China6th110 m hurdles13.18+0.1
2016World Indoor ChampionshipsPortland, Oregon, U.S.1st60 m hurdles7.41n/aWL, NR [4][5]
Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil1st110 m hurdles13.05+0.2
2017World ChampionshipsLondon, England1st110 m hurdles13.040.0
DNF4×100 m relay—n/aTeammate injury [30]
2019World ChampionshipsDoha, QatarDQ110 m hurdles—+0.6Impeding competitors [31]

National championship results
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventTimeWindNotes
Representing Manchester High School
2012Jamaican Secondary School Championships (U19)Kingston, Jamaica3rd400 m hurdles51.30n/aPB
4th110 m hurdles14.66−6.3
Jamaican Junior ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica3rd400 m hurdles51.16n/aPB
3rd110 m hurdles13.83−1.8PB
Representing Kingston College
2013Jamaican CARIFTA Trials (U20)Kingston, Jamaica1st400 m hurdles51.05n/aPB
Jamaican Secondary School Championships (U19)Kingston, Jamaica1st400 m hurdles49.98n/aNJR, CR, PB [9][10]
1st110 m hurdles13.24+0.4NJR, CR, PB [9][10]
Representing the Arkansas Razorbacks
2014NCAA Division I Indoor ChampionshipsAlbquerque, New Mexico, U.S.1st60 m hurdles7.58n/aA
3rd4×400 m relay3:06.29n/a
NCAA Division I ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon, U.S.DNF (semi 3)110 m hurdles—+0.2Injury [9]
2015NCAA Division I Indoor ChampionshipsFayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.1st60 m hurdles7.45n/aWL, NR, NCAAR, CR, PB [32][33]
8th4×400 m relay3:08.04n/a
NCAA Division I ChampionshipsEugene, Oregon, U.S.1st110 m hurdles13.01 w+3.9Wind-assisted
1st4×100 m relay38.47n/aPB
6th4×400 m relay3:05.91n/a
Jamaican ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica1st110 m hurdles12.97+1.0WL, CR, PB [34]
Representing Nike
2016Jamaican ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica1st110 m hurdles13.01+0.4
2017Jamaican ChampionshipsKingston, Jamaica1st110 m hurdles12.90+0.7WL, NR, CR, PB [7][8]

Circuit wins

Representing Nike

110 metres hurdles

Notes
  1. Did not run in the final.

References
  1. Taylor Dutch (15 July 2015). "Family and Killer Instincts Guide Omar McLeod Into Pro Career". flotrack.org. FloTrack. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  2. Paul A. Reid (26 June 2015). "Omar McLeod to go pro later this month". jamaicaobserver.com. The Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. Alfonz Juck (28 November 2018). "McLeod finds new coach". trackalerts.com. Trackalerts.com. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  4. Erik C. Anderson (20 March 2016). "Jamaica's Omar McLeod wins mens 60-meter hurdles at 2016 World Indoor Championships". oregonlive.com. The Oregonian. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  5. Paul Reid (20 March 2016). "#WorldIndoors: McLeod wins 60mH in World leading time". jamaicaobserver.com. The Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  6. Phil Minshull (24 April 2016). "Hurdler McLeod makes history as a barrier breaker after 9.99 100m win". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  7. Kayon Raynor (24 June 2017). "Athletics: Olympic champion McLeod sets sizzling 110m hurdles pace". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  8. "Omar McLeod: Olympic gold medallist sets sights on 110m hurdles world record". bbc.com. BBC. 25 June 2017. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  9. André Lowe (30 December 2014). "Freshman McLeod Creates Big Impression". jamaica-gleaner.com. The Gleaner. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  10. Steve Landells (11 June 2017). "That moment when… McLeod came top of his class". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  11. Graham, Raymond (4 August 2013). "McLeod to attend University of Arkansas". The Sunday Gleaner. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  12. Reid, Paul A. (26 June 2015). "Omar McLeod to go pro later this month". The Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  13. Graham, Raymond. "Jamaicans continue to dominate at Carifta". The Gleaner.
  14. Omar McLeod at Tilastopaja (registration required)
  15. "110 Metres Hurdles - men - senior - outdoor - All time best". International Association of Athletics Federations. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  16. "Freshman McLeod creates big impression". The Gleaner. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  17. Minshull, Phil (15 March 2015). "World leads for Bromell, Dendy and McLeod at NCAA Indoor Champs". Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  18. Rorick, Jim. "Collegiate Indoor All-Time List - Men". Track & Field News. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  19. Auka, John (2 June 2015). "NCAA Formchart—Men". Track & Field News. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  20. Maiman, Beth (13 June 2015). "Arkansas Omar McLeod wins two titles behind memory of his aunt". NCAA.com. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  21. Rorick, Jim. "Collegiate Outdoor All-Time List - Men". Track & Field News. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  22. Ekema-Agbaw, Joy (6 July 2015). "McLeod to Represent Nike on the Professional Circuit". Arkansas Razorbacks. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  23. Levy, Leighton (29 June 2015). "Win takes McLeod closer to Beijing goal". The Gleaner. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  24. Reid, Paul A. (8 July 2015). "VCB clocks first sub-11 in Hungary 100m win". The Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  25. Ramsak, Bob (2016-04-24). Hurdler McLeod makes history as a barrier breaker after 9.99 100m win. IAAF. Retrieved on 2016-04-24.
  26. Carayol, Tumaini (2 October 2019). "World Athletics Championships 2019: Asher-Smith wins 200m gold – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  27. Homewood, Brian (3 October 2019). "Athletics: Spain's Ortega gets bronze after IAAF agree he was impeded". Retrieved 4 October 2019.
  28. "OMAR MCLEOD ATHLETE PROFILE". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  29. "OMAR MCLEOD JAMAICA". tfrrs.org. Track & Field Results Reporting System. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  30. Chris Chavez (17 August 2017). "Usain Bolt Reveals Left Hamstring Tear From Final Race At World Championships". si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  31. "110 Metres Hurdles Men - Final" (PDF). IAAF. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2019.
  32. "Omar McLeod of Arkansas Breaks 18-Year Old NCAA Record in Men's 60 Hurdles, Gets Jamaican Mark as Well". letsrun.com. LetsRun.com. 14 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  33. "McLeod lowers two records on way to NCAA glory". trackalerts.com. TrackAlerts.com. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  34. Kayon Raynor; Greg Stutchbury (27 June 2015). "McLeod upsets Parchment in 110m hurdles in Jamaica trials". reuters.com. Reuters. Retrieved 4 April 2019.

Videos
Records
Preceded by
Maurice Wignall		 Men's 60 m hurdles Jamaican record holder
14 March 2015 - present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
Hansle Parchment		 Men's 110 m hurdles Jamaican record holder
24 June 2017 - present		 Incumbent
Achievements
Preceded by
Pascal Martinot-Lagarde		 Men's 60 m hurdles season's best
2015, 2016		 Succeeded by
Andrew Pozzi
Preceded by
Orlando Ortega		 Men's 110 m hurdles season's best
2016, 2017		 Succeeded by
Sergey Shubenkov
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