NATIONAL 110-metre hurdles record-holder Hansle Parchment became the second premier track and field athlete to ink a partnership with GraceKennedy when he signed on as brand ambassador at the company’s Harbour Street headquarters in downtown Kingston on Friday.

The sprint hurdles Olympic bronze medallist will be the face of Grace Food’s Aloe Vera drink and he joins female sprint superstar Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce, who is brand amabassador for the company’s Vienna sausages.

The tall and strongly built hurdler, who becomes 23 tomorrow, expressed delight that “a company like Grace would want to be associated” with him.

The University of the West Indies psychology student added: “I am blessed and I give you every assurance that I will always live up to high expectations. I really thank you all for the support and I hope that my family, friends and other well-wishers will continue to support me as I work with my coach Mr Fitz Coleman.”

Parchment created history at the 2012 London showpiece by winning Jamaica’s first Olympic medal in the 110-metre hurdles event.

There he ran a national record 13.12 seconds to finish third behind Americans Aries Merritt and Jason Richardson.

The former Morant Bay High and Kingston College student lowered that mark earlier this month when he clocked 13.05 seconds to win the 110-metre hurdles race at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.

GraceKennedy Group chief executive officer Don Wehby, in his address, said Parchment’s dedication and humility were the main reasons for his selection as one of the company’s brand ambassadors.

“We look beyond the performance on the track. There are a lot of great athletes out there, but when we choose somebody to be our brand ambassador that selection process goes way beyond being a track and field star,” Wehby said.

Minister with responsibility for Sports Natalie Neita-Headley hailed Grace for their involvement in sports development in a country where “the demands are so great and the available resources often so thinly stretched”.