The 31-year-old Jamaican pulled off an upset at the Tokyo Olympics defeating USA champion and world-leader Grant Holloway in the final as Jamaica took gold and bronze medals in the event. He returns to Des Moines after a six-year hiatus, having last competed at the Drake Relays in 2016.
Parchment will line up against reigning 110m hurdles champion Daniel Roberts, who was a semi-finalist in Tokyo in 2021. The field will also include Jamaica’s Damion Thomas, a semi-finalist in Tokyo, Michael Dickson, as well as Aaron Mallett, Jamal Britt. Chris Douglas and David King, both finalists at the 2022 Indoor World Championships, have also been confirmed for the sprint hurdles race.
Parchment should have good memories of his participation in Des Moines as he won the sprint hurdles in 2014. He was third in 2016.
Running into a stiff headwind of -2.5m/s, 31-year-old Tokyo Olympic gold medallist, clocked 13.47 to follow up on his victory at Velocity Fest 11 at the National Stadium in Kingston on Saturday, April 23. Then he ran a fast 13.20, a time that was the world lead for a few hours before the USA’s Devon Allen ran 13.12 in Annapolis.
On Saturday, Parchment who had his first injury-free season in a number of years proved unbeatable in his first race in Des Moines since 2016, holding off the challenge of Jamal Britt, who clocked 13.53 for second place and Barbadian Shane Braithwaite, who was third in 13.69.
In the long jump, the USA’s Kenturah Orji jumped 6.69m to defeat her friend and former roommate Chanice Porter of Jamaica. Porter unleashed a jump of 6.59m to take silver by one centimetre ahead of Ese Brume (6.58m).
Former Hydel and Kansas State high jumper Kimberly Williamson cleared 1.85m for third place in the high jump won by Vashti Cunningham, who soared over 1.90m for victory. Rachel McCoy was second by virtue of a cleaner record on the day having also bowed out at 1.85m.