Deuce Carter was in shock minutes after the final of the men’s 110m hurdles on Saturday’s third day of the Supreme Ventures Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) National Senior Championships at the National Stadium.

The 24-year-old had just finished second to Omar McLeod and secured his spot on the team to the Rio Olympics next month and one of the first things he managed to say was, “I am going to Rio, I didn’t know this day would come.”

Carter ran 13.21 seconds behind McLeod’s 13.01 seconds, just under his 13.20 seconds personal best set three weeks ago at the Racers Grand Prix, and said: “Right now I am in shock, it doesn’t show on my face and maybe I have not woken up to it yet, but I am elated.”

While praising his coach, hurdles guru Fitz Coleman, Carter said staying healthy was one of the keys to his having the best season of his career. “This is my best season ever. I started early and just kept working hard, once I am healthy, anything can happen.”

Carter said but for hitting the eighth hurdle he might have run even faster. “Hurdles one to five I was out there, but no idea what happened at eight and nine; I hit hurdle eight and that threw me off a bit, but I regained focus and ran hard to the line … the first quarter of the race was better, it was clean, I have a lot to work on.”

— Paul Reid