Hansle Parchment will be looking for a promising season opener in the 110m hurdles when he competes in the first meeting of the Wanda Damond League in Xiamen, China, on Saturday.
The six-foot Jamaican, who is preparing to defend his Olympic title in Paris later this season, last raced on September 12, 2023, when he clinched the Diamond trophy at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene’s Hayward Field by defeating three-time world champion Grant Holloway of the USA. This victory, with a time of 12.93 (0.9m/s), not only improved his nine-year-old personal best but also marked a world lead. Before this, he secured a silver medal behind Holloway at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
Parchment’s trophy cabinet also includes a silver medal at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing and a bronze at London 2012.
US duo Cordell Tinch and Daniel Roberts could provide his toughest challenge in China. The lineup also features Orlando Bennett, a teammate of Jamaica’s Parchment.
Additionally, six other Jamaican athletes are slated to participate on the day.
Jamaica’s two-time world champion Danielle Williams is set to compete against Devynne Charlton, who aims to sustain her winning streak. Charlton, the standout Bahamian sprint hurdler, gained attention during the indoor season with two world indoor 60m hurdles record-breaking performances, culminating in her triumph at the World Indoor Championships.
World record-holder Tobi Amusan of Nigeria, Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho-Quinn of Puerto Rico and Jamaica’s Olympic bronze medallist Megan Tapper are also in the field.
Jamaica’s world indoor bronze medallist Ackeem Blake will face off against world indoor champion Christian Coleman and 2022 world champion Fred Kerley in the men’s 100m. Also participating are two other Jamaican athletes, Yohan Blake and Rohan Watson.
Danniel Thomas-Dodd will be the first Jamaican in action as she is down to contest the women’s shot put at 5:21 am Jamaica time.
Schedule for Jamaicans
Women’s shot put – 5:21 amDanniel Thomas-Dodd
Women’s 100m hurdles – 6:17 amDanielle WilliamsMegan Tapper
Men’s 110m hurdles – 7:27 amOrlando BennettHansle Parchment
Men’s 100m – 7:53 amYohan BlakeAckeem BlakeRohan Watson
