Jamaica's Dejour Russell in the 110m hurdles at the IAAF World U20 Championships Bydgoszcz 2016 (© Getty Images)
Jamaica currently has the undisputed king of the 110m hurdles at senior level in the shape of Omar McLeod, and the scenario is the same at U18 level with De’Jour Russell an overwhelming favourite to take this title.
He finished fourth as a 16-year-old at the IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz last July, and has been hugely impressive this year. He clocked a world-leading time for an U20 of 13.21 in Kingston in April, and finished fourth at the Jamaican Championships in a world U18 best of 13.32 over the senior barriers in June. He also clocked a wind-assisted 13.19 (2.4m/s) to win the Carifta Games title earlier this year, and if successfully adjusting down to the smaller barriers, he looks unstoppable in this realm.
His strongest rival will likely come from the opposite side of the world to him, with Chinese Taipei’s Hao-Hua Lu the second fastest man in the field. He lowered his PB to 13.40 when winning the Asian Youth Championships with ease last month, and he will now pit his talents against the world’s best.
Others of note include Zayed Al Shamsi of the United Arab Emirates, who has run 13.43 this year, and Alexandru Iconaru of Romania, a 13.51 performer at his best. France’s Thomas Wanaverbecq, South Africa’s Julian Bogner and China’s Ning Xiaohan all look capable of getting among the medals.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
