Reigning 110m hurdles Olympic Champion Hansle Parchment got his season off to a flier at the Velocity Fest Meet at the National Stadium in St Andrew last weekend, when he won in 13.20s and achieved better than the minimum requirement he set for himself heading into the meet.

“I feel very good. I was setting a time of under 13.30s for myself for my first race and I know coach has some corrections for me, but otherwise I am feeling good,” he said after cruising to victory.

Parchment was left gushing about his start, something that has been a major Achilles heel for him throughout his career.

“My start has improved massively. I just need to keep working on the technique, keep improving and I am supposed to be able to do something good this year,” he said.

Parchment will not be rushing his season and will be specific in how much he races ahead of the National Championships.

“I am taking it a step at a time. We have trials coming up, so the focus is right there at the moment.”

He is looking to improve technically as the season goes on as he targets a special performance at the World Championships in July.

“I keep trying to improve on each aspect, keep trying to improve on what is already a strength and I am looking forward to the rest of the season.”

After struggling with injuries all the way up to the Olympic Games last summer, Parchment was delighted to be able to begin his season in April this year.

“This year, thankfully, I am able to start much earlier. I am not injured. I give thanks for that, so I have to keep maintaining my last half of the race.”

Parchment is also happy with the level of competition is his pet event in Jamaica at the moment.

“It’s a very competitive field, we have talent all around. I am very happy about that, to see hurdles becoming such a favourite event, so I am looking forward to the competition,” he said.

Parchment is set for a return to the Drake Relays in the USA this weekend.

— Dwayne Richards