Barbados’ top two male sprint hurdlers were in action yesterday at different meets in the United States.
Former world champion Ryan Brathwaite finished fifth in a drama-filled men’s 110 metres hurdles race at the Adidas Grand Prix in New York, while Shane Brathwaite was seventh at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division One Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ryan clocked 13.48 seconds as current World champion Jason Richardson, of the United States, crossed first in 13.18 seconds.
Another American, Jeff Porter, had a personal best 13.26 seconds to take second place. Cuba’s Orlando Ortega was third in 13.35, followed by American David Oliver in 13.37.
When the race got underway, American Aries Merritt false-started and ran under protest, but beat the gun again on the very next attempt and refused to leave the track.
When he finally did, another false start saw Jamaica’s Hansle Parchment being thrown out of the race. He also ran under protest but did not finish and his compatriot Dwight Thomas fell over the last hurdle, finishing seventh in 25.08 second.
Meanwhile, Shane confirmed his status as one of the top collegiate hurdlers in the United States.
He earned All-American honours as one of the top eight, but the race didn’t go as he expected.
Shane was seventh overall in 13.93 seconds, running into headwinds gusting at 3-5 metres per second.
Jamaican Andrew Riley, of Illinois, was the winner in 13.53 seconds. Wayne Davis III, of Texas A&M, was second in 13.60 and Clemson’s Spencer Adams third in 13.73 seconds.
Both Brathwaites have qualified for the London 2012 Olympic Games and are expected home for the National Championships which will be held from June 22 to 24. (SAT)
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