Forbes breaks record and rises in rankings
Ronald Forbes (right) in action at the 2014 Commonwealth Games
(CNS): Cayman’s 110-metre hurdler, Ronald Forbes, has broken his own national record and become one of the fastest hurdlers in the world this year. With less than three months to go before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the elite local athlete clocked a time of 13.36 at the NTC Star Sprint Series in Clermont, Florida, on 30 April, putting the 31-year-old hurdler in contention for Rio. “It feels good that I could get my body to that point,” Forbes said in a release.
The current world record for the 110-metre hurdles is held by Aries Merritt of the United States at 12:80, which he set four years ago, but Forbes is now in the top ten rankings for the fastest times this year. The fastest hurdler so far in 2015 is Omar McLeod from Jamaica, who ran 13.05 last Friday in Doha.
Forbes and sprinter Kemar Hyman are the only two track athletes from the Cayman Islands to have qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympics. While Forbes may be dreaming of a medal, he said his primary goal was another record.
“To me there is no greater feeling than crossing the finish line and seeing that personal best. It means you’ve pushed yourself to a goal you never thought you could. If you keep running your personal best, eventually you will get to a medal, and you hope that your best is worthy of a gold,” he explained.
Cayman Islands Sports Minister Osbourne Bodden congratulated Forbes on his new national record.
“This remarkable feat for him and for our country demonstrates why it’s so important that we continue to develop and support our athletes,” Bodden stated. “I’m excited and looking forward to seeing him take to the track in Rio and make our islands proud.”
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games begin 5 August and end 21 August.
Category: Sports, Track & Field
Congrats Ronald! Keep up the great work, and continue to make us proud!
Congratulations Mr. Forbes!! Go and make us proud out there, but as usual show the younger ones, the right track (road) to take. Good to read some very positive news for once!! Make Cayman proud and be proud of what you have accomplished and will accomplish!!!
Congrats Ronald! Your successes always deserve commendation but all the more at times like this when prominent persons in local sports have cast a cloud of shame on Cayman. Thank you for your dedication to your sport and congrats on your achievements. All the best for your future endeavours!!
Awesome ! Way to represent !
Congratulations.
Congratulations, Ronald.
Because you were injured and didn’t so well a few years back, those in power thought they could crush your dreams and phase you out by reducing your salary. I am very happy that you proved them and everyone else who didn’t believe you in wrong.
All the best in Rio.
– Former CI National Athletics team athlete.
I believe that is the 9th fastest time this year, so he stands a good chance of reaching the final in Rio. This standard of performance is not reached without a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, so he is to be congratulated now that all his dedication is paying off.