Hog Calls

McLeod could turn heads in Beijing

Arkansas hurdler Omar McLeod clears a hurdle during the men's 60-meter hurdle finals at the Razorback Invitational track meet at the Randal Tyson Track Complex on Jan. 31, 2015, in Fayetteville.
Arkansas hurdler Omar McLeod clears a hurdle during the men's 60-meter hurdle finals at the Razorback Invitational track meet at the Randal Tyson Track Complex on Jan. 31, 2015, in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- In Kingston, Jamaica on Saturday, Omar McLeod made a prophet and then some of his University of Arkansas head track coach.

Last week Chris Bucknam addressed the prospects of Razorbacks long jumper Jarrion Lawson, 3,000-meter steeplechaser Stanley Kebenei and pole vaulter Andrew Irwin advancing from the USA Men's Outdoor National meet in Eugene, Ore. to the World Outdoor Championships in August in Beijing, China and of 110-meter hurdler McLeod, 5,000-meter runner Kemoy Campbell and triple jumper Clive Pullen advancing from their Jamaica national meet to Beijing.

For all but one, Bucknam expressed the honor it would be just if they advanced to Beijing.

The one, McLeod, Bucknam seemed willing to bet all the tea in China that the Razorbacks sophomore not only would be in China but succeed in China.

"Omar could be the World champion," Bucknam said. "He is still young but he has got to be picked as one of the favorites."

Make that THE favorite now.

McLeod, the NCAA and SEC Indoor 60-meter hurdles champion, and NCAA and SEC Outdoor 110-meter hurdles champion and member of Arkansas' NCAA Outdoor champion 400-meter relay, Saturday won the 110-meter hurdles in 12.97.

It is the best time in the world for 2015 and the best ever for a collegian shattering the 13.00 run by the legendary Renaldo Nehemiah for Maryland in 1979.

McLeod's previous best 110-meter hurdles time in legal conditions was 13.21 setting the Drake Relays record in April. He won the NCAA Outdoor in a wind-aided 13.01. McLeod clocked 13.24 winning his prelim at Kingston before setting the collegiate record in the final to join Campbell, the Jamaican 5,000-meter champion, on Jamaica's Beijing bound national team.

"Words can't explain how honored, humbled and blessed I am to break that record," McLeod was quoted Saturday. "I'm just focusing on staying grounded, continuing to train hard. Keep God first and everything will take care of itself."

Everything may well include the Bill Bowerman Award. McLeod is a semifinalist for the award voted annually to the nation's top male track athlete.

If he gets the Bowerman, McLeod will join sophomore center fielder Andrew Benintendi, winner of college baseball's Golden Spikes Award, as Razorbacks in 2015 nationally named the best in their sport.

OPENING HEAVEN'S DOOR

Joe Black, a linebacker for Frank Broyles' great 1964-66 Razorbacks teams, passed away at 71 earlier this month. He is remembered by teammate and roommate defensive end Bobby Roper as among the hardest hitters on the field and the kindest off the field.

"They called Joe 'Smacking Joe Black,'" Roper said. "He was from Smackover, Arkansas but another part of the reason they called him that is when he hit you he chilled you and it hurt. He did that for the three years that I was around him."

And off the field?

"You didn't want to lose him as a friend," Roper said. "You knew he was going to heaven and you thought he might drag you along."

Sports on 06/29/2015

Upcoming Events