Demario Prince wins men's 110m hurdles semifinal at JAAA national championships

Demario Prince posted 13.38 seconds to win the opening men's 110m hurdles semifinal on day three of the JAAA/PUMA National Junior and Senior Championships at the National Stadium, advancing to the final as the fastest Jamaican over the distance this season.

Six hurdlers faced the starter after Brandon Harris was absent and Rasheen Brown, listed for lane one, did not appear. Prince lined up in lane three. Sharvi Simmons of Clemson University, who has recorded 13.37 this campaign, took lane four. Lane five went to Hansel Parchment, a two-time national champion and Tokyo Olympics gold medallist sponsored by Grace Kennedy and Puma. Lafrance Campbell started from lane six, while Shaquille Gordon, a former Calabar athlete now with Adidas who also competes in the 100 metres but is focused on hurdles, occupied lane seven.

Each athlete cleared ten hurdles set at 42 inches. Prince got away strongly and was not challenged, pulling clear despite a headwind of negative 2.8 metres per second. The flash time of 13.37 was adjusted officially to 13.38.

Shaquille Gordon finished well from the outside for second place in 13.51, one hundredth of a second ahead of Simmons at 13.52. Parchment, who appeared to have the slowest start among the main contenders, placed fifth in 13.71, leaving his route to the final in doubt.

The race was run after floodlights were switched on inside the National Stadium. Observers had noted earlier that winning times could fall around 13.5 seconds depending on wind, which often eases once the light towers are activated over the track.