McLeod set for first sprint hurdles race of the year

Olympic and world champion Omar McLeod will take to the start of his first 110m hurdles of 2018 as he lines up against a tough field at the Shanghai Diamond League meet on Saturday. McLeod who has a seasons best of 10.32 seconds in the 100m and 20.49 in the 200m this year, will go up against Commonwealth Games champion and fellow Jamaican Ronald Levy as well as Hansel Parchment.

The field will also include world record holder Aries Merritt of the United States, 2016 Olympic silver medalist Orlando Ortega and Russia's Surgey Shubenkov.

Shericka Jackson who followed Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo home in the women's 200m at the Commonwealth Games, will once again face each other in the half-lap event which will also include, Dafne Schippers of the Netherlands and Marie Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast.

Also on the track, Commonwealth champion Janieve Russell and Leah Nugent will contest the women's 400m hurdles. Kimberly Williams and Shanieka Ricketts in the women's triple jump and Damar Forbes in men's long jump, lead Jamaica's field event chances.

Meanwhile, American Christian Coleman, who won a silver medal in the 100 metres at the 2017 World Championships, has withdrawn from the men's 100m event citing physical issues. It means the clash between Coleman and Canadian Andre de Grasse will be delayed.

However, De Grasse should get good competition from world 100m champion Justin Gatlin and 200m world champion Ramil Guliyev of Turkey.