This Caribbean Country Finally Has A Gold At The IAAF World Championships

Omar McLeod of Jamaica celebrates winning the Men’s 110m Hurdles final during day four of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on August 7, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, LONDON, England, Tues. Aug. 8, 2017: After a disappointing weekend for Jamaica’s top two athletes and Jamaican fans globally, the Caribbean nation has finally scored a gold for the region at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.

After Usain Bolt and Elaine Thompson both fell by the wayside in the 100m finals, Jamaican Olympic champion Omar McLeod put his country and his region in gold standing with a win Monday in the 110-m men’s hurdles competition.

McLeod won in a time of 13.04 to move his country’s medal total to two so far in the Championships. By contrast, Jamaica won seven gold medals – and 12 in total – at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing where they dominated the sprint program.

“There was a lot of pressure coming in but I channeled it positively,” McLeod commented after the race. “It’s totally different to last year where we had Usain and Elaine winning, which I used to propel me. I didn’t have that this time so I really wanted to come out and shine my own light.”

Cuba is the only other Caribbean nation with one medal at London 2017 so far. That brings the region’s total as of August 7, 2017 to three.

Meanwhile, Latin America’s total is also three – two for Venezuela and one for Colombia to date.