In what was the biggest shock of the day, perhaps of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as far as athletic is concerned, Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment defeated Grant Holloway to win the 110 metres hurdles.
Parchment, who was just third at the Jamaica Olympic Trials, secured his first Olympic title.
Holloway led from the onset but lost momentum over the final two barriers and was caught by Parchment, who had to play runner-up to Holloway in both the heat and semi-final. Parchment was not to be denied the number one spot a third time around.
After the race, Parchment spoke of not being surprised by the gold medal performance, “I knew what I wanted, and I maintained my composure and kept working. I think I had a pretty decent start, and I just ran straight through to the line.”
Parchment stopped the clock at 13.04 seconds for gold, Holloway 13.09 for silver, and Ronald Levy was third in a time of 13.10 seconds.
The Jamaican men’s sprint relay team will be vying for gold when they line up for the final of the men’s 4×100 metres relay. The Jamaican quartet of Jevaughn Minzie, Julian Forte, Yohan Blake and Oblique Seville took heat number one, running a season’s best of 37.82 seconds, which saw the team advancing to the final as the fastest qualifier.
Trinidad and Tobago finished sixth in the same heat with a season’s best of 38.63 seconds. This was not enough to earn a qualifying spot to the final.
Meanwhile, the Jamaican women had a few sloppy exchanges. However, they advanced to the final of the sprint relay after finishing third in heat number one.
Briana Williams on lead off, Natasha Morrison on the second leg, Remona Burchell on the third leg and 100 metres bronze medallist, Shericka Jackson on anchor clocked a season’s best 42.15 seconds.
United Kingdom won the heat in 41.55 seconds ahead of the USA in 41.90 seconds.
