Jamaican sprint hurdlers Omar McLeod and Britany Anderson delivered stellar performances at the 13th Savona International Meeting in Savona, Italy, on Wednesday, showcasing their readiness for the upcoming season.
McLeod, the 30-year-old 2016 Rio Olympics champion in the 110m hurdles, made a triumphant return to competition. McLeod, who also won the World Championships in 2017, clocked a winning time of 13.37 seconds in his first competitive race since April 2023 at the LSU Invitational in the United States.
Despite encountering challenges with rhythm and hitting hurdles during the race, McLeod managed to hold off strong competition from Great Britain’s Joshua Zeller, who finished in 13.42 seconds, and Spain’s Enrique Llopis, who clocked 13.43 seconds, to secure the third place.
A season-best time of 12.88 seconds
Britany Anderson, the 2022 World Championship silver medalist in the 100m hurdles, continued her impressive form by winning her event with a season-best time of 12.88 seconds. Anderson faced a tough battle with Ireland’s Sarah Lavin, who finished in 12.92 seconds, and Italy’s Elisa Maria Di Lazzaro, who clocked 12.99 seconds. Anderson’s victory in Savona marked a significant improvement from her previous outing, where she recorded a time of 13.23 seconds for victory at the X Athletic Elite Meeting in Milan earlier in April.
With the National Championships in Jamaica just six weeks away, the successes of McLeod and Anderson are promising indicators of their form and potential. Both athletes are aiming to secure coveted spots on Jamaica’s Olympic team for the upcoming Games in Paris.
