LSU freshman and former Northeast HS standout Damion Thomas heads into this week's IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland as the top seed in the 110m hurdles. Less than three weeks after finishing third at the NCAA Championships in the 110m hurdles (42"), Thomas, clocked a time of 12.99s at the junior height of 39 inches, joining Wilhelm Belocian of France for a share of the U20 record, and as the only two men to break 13 seconds. He owns the three fastest U20 marks of the 2018 season. We caught up with Thomas to see his training leading up to this week's meet.
Saturday June 30th
- I did 5 step drills over 5 hurdles and then did blocks 2x1 hurdles, 1x3 hurdles, then 1x 5 hurdles.
Monday July 2nd
- I did blocks up to 3 hurdles. The hurdle spacings were pushed in to maximize quickness in between and reacting to the hurdle.
Tuesday July 3rd
- I did hurdle mobility drills, and then did blocks. I did a rep over 1 hurdle, a rep over 3 hurdles, then a race simulation over 8 hurdles. I left the 4th to travel for Jamaica.
Thomas looked like a sure fire bet to make the medal stand for Jamaica at the 2016 IAAF U20 World Championships. Unfortunately in the semifinals, Thomas stumbled over the first hurdle and as he came crashing down so did his chances of a IAAF World U20 Championship.
"Two years ago, it really left a bad taste in my mouth," Thomas said. "It wasn't how I wanted to end that season. So to come back this year and equal the world junior record shows I am on the right path."
Heading into Tampere Finland and the IAAF World U20 Championships, what are his expectations?
"The expectations are just to execute the same way, come away with the victory, and hopefully a new record."
