Omar McLeod, a former University of Arkansas NCAA champion and 2016 Olympic gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles, failed to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics at the Jamaican Trials on Sunday at the National Stadium in Kingston.
McLeod, the heavy favorite to win the final after having the top time in the qualifying round, hit the first hurdle with his right foot. He managed to stay upright, but was knocked off stride and never recovered.
After slowing down after the final hurdle, McLeod finished last among the eight entrants in 16.22 seconds.
The top three finishers at the Jamaican Trials qualify for the Olympics.
Ronald Levy won in 13.10 seconds with LSU senior Damion Thomas second (13.11) and Hansel Parchment third (13.16). Arkansas freshman Phillip Lemonious finished fourth in 13.22.
McLeod posted on his Twitter account that he began suffering from severe cramps in his calves before the race. He said that panic was among his reactions, but that he tried to compete the best he could.
McLeod also expressed disappointment that the final was moved from Saturday night to 8 a.m. Sunday and that he got only a few hours of sleep before his 5 a.m. wake-up call. He said he would have preferred the final be Saturday night as originally scheduled.
NBC Sports reported McLeod will miss the Tokyo Games unless the Jamaican Athletic Federation changes its usual policy of sending the top three finishers in each event.
“I do not know what will happen,” McLeod, who ran 13.04 in Saturday night’s prelims, said in his Twitter post. “But I am hoping and praying I get a chance to go defend that title.”
Razorbacks junior Kris Hari finished second in the 100 at the Danish Trials, running a career-best 10.22. The Olympic qualifying standard is 10.05, but Hari will be able to compete in Tokyo as a member of the Danish 400-meter relay team.
Arkansas sophomore Daszay Freeman also competed in the Jamaican Trials and finished fifth in the 100-meter hurdles in 13.09.
Razorbacks senior Kennedy Thomson competed at the Canadian Trials and finished fifth in the 1,500 in 4:22.25.