FAYETTEVILLE -- Omar McLeod won the 60-meter hurdles at the World Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier this year and ran a world-leading time in the 110 hurdles (12.98 seconds) May 14 in Shanghai, but the former Arkansas star still needs to earn his way onto the Jamaican Olympic team.
McLeod, a three-time NCAA individual champion the previous two years while competing for the Razorbacks before turning pro, has to finish in the top three in the 110 hurdles tonight at the Jamaican Senior National Championships in Kingston to compete in the Olympics later this summer in Rio de Janeiro.
McLeod said he doesn't have a problem with the system, considering not even Usain Bolt -- who has won six Olympic gold medals and is an 11-time world champion in the 100 and 200 -- gets a free pass to Rio and must qualify at the Jamaican Championships.
"We have so many great sprinters in Jamaica," said McLeod, who won the NCAA indoor title for the 60 hurdles in 2014 and 2015, and the outdoor 110 hurdles title in 2015. "So I think it's only fair for everybody to go earn their spot."
McLeod, who lives and trains in Fayetteville, said he's feeling strong and rested
"I haven't raced in about a month to focus on training," he said. "It's been a good break from racing, but I'm definitely ready to go again."
McLeod is looking to join former Arkansas teammate Clive Pullen on the Jamaican Olympic team.
Pullen, who will be a senior at Arkansas next year, won the triple jump Thursday night at the Jamaican Championships by recording a personal-best 55 feet, 5½ inches, which also surpassed the Olympic qualifying standard of 55-3½.
McLeod's main competition for the Jamaican 110 hurdles title figures to be Hansle Parchment, who won the bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics.
"It's going to be an interesting race," McLeod said. "I'm not going to be cocky about it, but I should be able to finish in the top three, and of course I hope to win."
McLeod, 22, said he's excited about the prospect of making his first Olympic team.
"That's been my dream, to represent myself, my country and the Razorbacks in the Olympics," he said. "It's the biggest sporting event in the world, and I want to be there."
Sports on 07/02/2016