WRITTEN FOR THE IAAF WEBSITE
In the absence of 2016 champion, Omar McLeod – the Olympic and world 110m hurdles champion – his Jamaican compatriot, Ronald Levy of Jamaica could likely step up to take not only his first global title but major championship to boot.
The 25-year-old contested his first ever indoor competition in Glasgow last weekend and emerged victorious in 7.49. Third-fastest in the world last summer with a 13.05 110m hurdles lifetime best, Levy has registered 7.84 outdoors in his only other contest this year.
World record holder for the 110m hurdles, Aries Merritt of the USA continues his recovery from a kidney transplant in 2015 and the 32-year-old is in fine form with a 7.46 season’s best set at altitude.
The 2012 world indoor champion recorded 7.58 behind Levy in Glasgow and is in his quickest shape since his golden season six years ago, where he also claimed the 110m hurdles Olympic title.
The winner of the US trial was however Jarret Eaton, who sped to a 7.43A personal best. Fourth in the 2016 global indoor event, he has twice eclipsed his pre-2018 best and the duo will be joined by a third American – Olympic fifth placer, Devon Allen who ran a 7.49A lifetime best in the US trial a fortnight after taking the top spot in New York.
Britain’s hopes rest with European indoor champion, Andrew Pozzi – the 25-year-old has finished fourth in the past two editions but with a 7.58 season’s best and third place finish in Glasgow, the Brit will require an extra spur from the home crowd if he is to finally step onto the rostrum.
Others hoping to make their mark include the Czech Republic’s Petr Svoboda, who has recorded 7.51 this winter – but stumbled to beyond eight seconds in Glasgow – in addition to two-time world indoor runner-up, Pascal Martinot-Lagarde of France, who has a 2018 best of 7.54.
His team-mate, Aurel Manga, won the French trial in a 7.53 lifetime best, whilst Milan Trajkovic of Cyprus and Ahmad Al-Moualed of Saudi Arabia have each set national records of 7.55 and 7.57, respectively this season.
