IN JAMAICA: Goule, Campbell waltz into World Champs 800m with sub-two-minute runs...For the first time in Jamaica’s history, two women have qualified for an 800m event at a senior championship

BY HOWARD WALKER Observer senior reporter walkerh@jamaicaobserver.com  Sunday, June 28, 2015    

Omar McLeod (centre) celebrates after beating Hansle
Parchment (right) to win the 110m hurdles in 12.97 seconds
 last night. Parchment was second in 13.18 while Dwight Thomas
finished fifth with 13.43 seconds. (PHOTO: BRYAN CUMMINGS)

OMAR McLeod announced himself to the world after winning the 110m hurdles in a world-leading 12.97 seconds, while for the first time in Jamaica’s history, two women have qualified for an 800m event at a senior championship after Natoya Goule and Simoya Campbell pulled each other to personal best times last night.

McLeod, 21, formerly of Manchester High and Kingston College and now representing the University of Arkansas, was quickest out of the blocks and hurdled smoothly and when 2012 Olympic bronze medallist Hansle Parchment threatened with three hurdles left, McLeod remained unfazed, kept his form and posted a fantastic 12.97, which is just outside Parchment’s national record of 12.94 seconds set last year.

(L) Natoya Goule (left) reacts after winning the
women’s 800m in 1:59.63 minutes ahead of Simoya
Campbell second in 1:59.92. (PHOTOS: BRYAN CUMMINGS)
(R) Demar Forbes on his way to posting a winning
 jump of 7.98m to capture the men’s long jump title.

Parchment clocked a decent 13.18 seconds following a mixed season, while Commonwealth Games champion Andrew Riley was third in 13.35 seconds. McLeod, who won the NCAA Division One Outdoor title with 13.21 seconds, the second fastest time ever at the event, has decided to go professional and will sign with OnTack Management.

He previously had the three fastest times for a Jamaican this year. Natoya Goule of Clemson University and Simoya Campbell of UTech engaged each other in a tremendous battle in the 800m final for new personal best times and below the World Championships qualifying mark of 2:01.00 minutes.

Goule won in 1:59.63 minutes, with Campbell just behind in 1:59.92. Kimarra McDonald was third with 2:02.08 minutes. Goule, the NCAA outdoor champion, now has the ninth fastest time of the year, while Campbell is now ranked at 13th. The world leader is Eunice Jepkoech Sum of Kenya with 1:57.82 minutes. more