Newly crowned national senior champion and world leader in the men’s 110m hurdles Omar McLeod will make his professional debut at the Istvan Gyulai Memorial meeting in Budapest, Hungary, next Tuesday, the meet organisers announced yesterday.

McLeod, who ran a lifetime best and world-leading 12.97 seconds, was expected to have signed a professional contract this week, ending his collegiate career on a high after winning both the indoor 60m and outdoor 110m titles this season.

His 12.97 seconds also made him the fastest ever American college student over the distance.

The former Manchester High and Kingston College student, who broke both the national junior records in the 110m and 400m hurdles at the 2013 ISSA Boys’ Championships, is expected to go up against American world record holder Aries Merritt ,who is also confirmed to run at the meet.

Two-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown and long jumper Damar Forbes are also expected to participate at the meet, as well as American Justin Gatlin, the fastest man over 100m and 200m in the last two years.