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Rasheed Broadbell built on his already impressive season today (May 22) when he clocked a personal best time in the 110m hurdles at the first meet of the JOA/JAAA Olympic Destiny Series at the National Stadium in Kingston.

The 20-year-old Broadbell, who trains with the MVP Track Club, ran 13.10, the second fastest time in the world this year, while holding off MVP clubmate Ronald Levy, who clocked a season-best 13.29.

Norman Pittersgill, also from MVP, was a distant third in 13.98.

“I was a bit nervous at the start. I didn’t want to pick it so I just kind of relaxed and tried to get out properly, execute the first three and then tried and pull through.”

Rasheed Broadbell

Broadbell said nerves at the start might have prevented him from going faster.

“I was a bit nervous at the start. I didn’t want to pick it so I just kind of relaxed and tried to get out properly, execute the first three and then tried and pull through,” he said, adding that he hopes to perform well enough at the upcoming national championships to make the Jamaican team to Tokyo.

Broadbell’s time bumps compatriot Omar McLeod’s 13.11 down to third fastest in the world this year, which means that, as a country, Jamaica has three of the top-five fastest men in the world – Broadbell (13.10), McLeod (13.11) and Damion Thomas (13.22) – who are ranked second, third and fifth.

The world-leading time of 13.07 was run by 2019 World Champion Grant Holloway of the United States (US).

In the women’s 100m hurdles, Elite Performance’s Shimayra Williams ran 12.83 for victory over Sprintec’s Yanique Thompson, who clocked 13.11.

Shanette Allison of GC Foster was third in 13.88.

The men’s 100m also provided some fireworks as, fresh off his victory at the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships, St Elizabeth Technical’s Sachin Dennis raced to a personal best 10.15 in the time trial, much faster than the 10.53 he ran at the championships.

Second overall was former STETHS sprinter Nigel Elliott of MVP, who ran 10.25. Third-place went to Oshane Bailey, who clocked 10.30.

Outside the top three, there was a pleasant surprise in the form of Jazeel Murphy, the former Bridgeport High School standout, who finished second in Dennis’ heat in 10.35.

It was his fastest time as a senior and his best in eight years. Murphy personal best is 10.25.

Roneisha McGregor won the women’s 100m in 11.36. Shockoria Wallace of MVP finished second in 11.41 while Jodean Williams of Racers Track Club was third in 11.50.

Tyquendo Tracey took the Men’s 200m in 20.47 seconds ahead of Brendon Rodney of the Sprintec duo of Brendon Rodney (20.51) and Romario Williams (20.55).

McGregor took the sprint double clocking 22.99 to win the 200m beating hurdles winner Williams (23.06) who was second. Srabani Nanda of MVP was third in 23.32.

MVP’s Candice McLeod turned in another impressive performance with her third personal best in as many starts in the 400m time trial that she won in 51.12. She said she came into the meet without expectations because of her heavy workload over the past two weeks.

Still, it was good enough to upstage Sprintec’s Tovea Jenkins, who ran 51.54 for second overall. Tiffany James-Rose, the 2016 World U20 400m champion, was third after she clocked 51.66.

Demish Gaye of Sprintec was the best quarter-miler on the day, clocking a season best 45.84. Rusheen McDonald was second overall after he won his heat 46.06 in a close battle with Zandrian Barnes of GC Foster, who crossed the line in 46.10 and was third overall.

There were solid performances in the field as well, as two days after his training partner, Fedrick Dacres, won the discus at the Tucson Elite meet in Arizona on Thursday, Traves Smikle won his season opener with a throw of 61.99m. He said afterwards he was disappointed with the distance but was satisfied considering this was his first competitive event this season.

Chad Wright, Smikle’s former teammate at Calabar High School threw 57.96 for second place.

The women’s event was won by Samantha Hall, who established a mark of 53.76m.

O’Dayne Richards, the 2015 World Championship bronze medalist, threw a season best 20.21m to win the shot put competition. The 2014 Commonwealth Games champion was much too strong for the field as Kobe Lawrence was more than two metres back with his best throw of 17.24m.

Tishana Hickling is in a race against time to make the Olympic standard in the long jump. After today’s performance, her anxiety levels might have escalated as even though she won with 6.10m, the mark is still 60cm short of the Olympic standard.

Second place went to Jodian Stewart who jumped 5.88m.