Levy targets sub-13 club after winning semis

KINGSTON, Jamaica: Commonwealth Games champion Ronald Levy signal led his readiness for Sunday’s final of the 110m hurdles with an easy 13.45 second to win his semifinal at the Jamaican trials on Saturday.

Levy, who has a season best of 13.19 seconds, has set his sights on improving his career best of 13.05 and dipping below 13 seconds in the final.

“Most definitely (want to go below 13 seconds), but I’m just trying to take everything a step at a time,” Levy told Reuters.

“I just want to compete tomorrow without hitting a hurdle and see how fast I can run. I know I’ll run pretty fast,” he added.

Former world championship silver medal list Hans le Parchment, who won his semifinal in 13.47, will be Levy’s main threat in the final.

Current Olympic and World Champion Omar McLeod is not competing in the trials.

Damion Thomas sped to 12.99 seconds to equal the world junior record set by Wilhem Belocian of France in 2014, while winning the under-20 boys 110m hurdles.

Newcomer Jahnoy Thompson was the fastest qualifier moving into the 200m finals with 20.29 seconds followed by 2014 Commonwealth champion Rasheed Dwyer with 20.59.

Stephenie Ann McPherson, who won a world championship bronze in 2013, led the qualifiers into Sunday’s 400m final after cruising to 51.20secs in the semifinals. — Reuters