CALABAR High past student Andrew Riley, sophomore at the University of Illinois, saved his best for last when he clocked a personal best 13.45 seconds to win the 110m hurdles title at the NCAA Division One Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon yesterday.

After Johnny Dutch of the University of South Carolina was ejected after a false start, the 22-year-old Riley kept his cool and utilised his speed to drive over the hurdles and lean at the finish line for victory ahead of Louisiana State University’s Barry Nugent, 13.49 seconds and defending champion Oklahoma University’s Ronnie Ash, 13.51 seconds.

“I can’t believe my dream has finally come true,” said Riley. “… I just went out there and focused on my race, my lane, my hurdles, and got the job done.

“The false start was pretty nerve-racking, but coach (Tonja Buford) Bailey had worked with me on holding my start in practice and that just paid off,” added Riley, who bettered his previous best 13.53 seconds ran at the Alumni Gold meet on April 17 this year.

“I just want to thank God, my family, friends, and everyone that worked with me,” he added.

Riley, the Big 12 100m champion last month, has become the third Jamaican to win the NCAA Division One 110m hurdles title after Greg Williams for Texas A&M in 1991 and Robert Foster for Fresno State in 1994.