Despite being the US Leader in the event, Clara Barton's Ronaldo Griffiths was coming into the race as an underdog. That's because his Jamaican compatriot, Timor Barrett, had handed him a significant loss in the Jamaican CARIFTA Trials just a few weeks prior. The St. Jago standout ran 51.49 to lock his position on the team. This time, it wouldn't be the trials-finals layout of the JAAA Trials, but simply a one time race. Griffiths, who had been in this situation, knew he had to get out hard.
That he did, as Griffiths exploded from the blocks. He made the stagger up early, as did Barbados' Rivaldo Leacock. At the 7th hurdle, the field was closing, but Griffiths felt he had the edge. He cleared the final hurdle, and held off a late charging Barrett. Only a few tenths of a second off his personal best of 51,92, Griffiths would lead a 1-2 sweep of the event for Jamaica, his first International Medal. Griffiths will see both Barrett and Leacock again soon, as both are entered in Penn Relays, alongside US #2 Cory Poole (East Orange, NJ).
