Broadbell, Parchment set for big clash in 110m hurdles

The men’s 110 metres hurdles, in recent years, has been one of the most successful events on the world stage for Jamaica, and the event is expected to attract a lot of attention at next weekend’s JAAA National Championships.

With places up for grabs to the Budapest World Championships in August, an intense battle is expected. Defending champion Hansle Parchment and runner-up Rasheed Broadbell, two of the country’s best in the event, will be involved in a mega clash.

The 22 year-old Broadbell is undoubtedly the most improved athlete in the country over the barriers, and after advancing to the semi-finals of the event at the Eugene World Championships last year, he went on to grab his first major title in winning at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. That good form has continued into this season and at the Rabat Diamond League in May, he scored an impressive win when he defeated world champion Grant Halloway of the United States and Parchment. His winning time was a meet record 13.08 seconds. The time is now the sixth-best on the World Athletics top list.

Parchment, the Tokyo Olympic Games champion, was very unfortunate last year in Eugene, where he advanced to the final of the event as the second-fastest qualifier, but missed the medal round after picking up an injury just before the start of the race. At the Rabat Diamond League meet he was third behind Broadbell in 13.24 seconds, and the 33 year-old will be hoping to retain his national title.

Battle for third

While it looks like a straight fight between Broadbell and Parchment for the top two spots, the third place is difficult to predict. Former Jamaica College standout Phillip Lemonious is in good form and looks to be the leading contender. Representing the University of Arkansas at the recent NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas, Lemonious won in a personal-best 13.24 to join Parchment as the second-fastest Jamaican over the barriers this season, and he will be hoping to carry that good form to the championships to book his ticket to Budapest.

Overseas-based athletes, Jaheem Hayles of the Syracuse University and Clemson University’s Giona Richards, represented their colleges in the event at the NCAA Championships, where they posted personal-best times of 13.28 and 13.31, respectively, in the final. Hayles finished third and Richards fifth.

Tyler Mason, another former Jamaica College standout, has a season’s best of 13.32. They should all make it a very exciting affair for the very important third automatic qualifying spot.