TOKYO, Japan — Orlando Bennett has achieved one of his career goals, claiming silver in the men’s 110m hurdles at the World Athletics Championships, but the Jamaican hurdler is already setting his sights higher — breaking the 13-second barrier.

For Bennett, his long-awaited podium finish represents not only a reward for years of perseverance but also a stepping stone toward an even greater ambition.

Bennett crossed the line in second place on Tuesday in a personal best time of 13.08 seconds, which placed him behind American Cordell Tinch, 12.99, and in front of fellow Jamaican Tyler Mason, who also posted a personal best of 13.12 seconds securing a double medal swoop for the Jamaicans.

He said the result fulfilled a vision he has carried since his teenage years.

“This is the highest pinnacle for me so far but who is to tell what can happen in the future? Right now, my aim is to reach 12 seconds, that’s something I really want to achieve, so I’ll see how it goes,” said Bennett.

“It’s manifestation, I wrote on my spikes that there can be miracles when you believe. I have been believing from day one … it just turned out that it took five years to get on that podium but, I mean, God does not make mistakes,” Bennett said.

“I have learned from the failures, I have cried, I almost stopped track and field, so it’s just been a journey and I have a lot more to go and I certainly hope that it’s a lot more happy endings, but whatever comes, I will keep having faith, keep working hard and keep doing my best.”

After failing to make the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Bennett admitted he struggled to find answers. His decision to move to the Racers Track Club later that year, however, proved to be the turning point.

“The big change was when I went to Racers in 2021 when I did not make the Olympics team … then I just kept on transitioning,” Bennett said. “Racers, the Capital of Speed, it’s a great honour training with Oblique Seville, Antonio Watson, Zharnel Hughes and most of all bringing my coach Craig Sewell into the mix with Glen Mills,” said Bennett.

“Coach Glen Mills is such a wise and great coach because even though he knows we have the physical aspect, he tells us to focus on the mental aspect of the sport. He has this story about the mind and that once you believe it you can achieve it, so it’s a great environment to be in and I am glad he gave me the opportunity to be in his camp.”

Looking back at the race itself, Bennett admitted it was difficult to process in real time.

“If I should be honest with you, from the start it was all a blur, it was just adrenaline. I was just running, trying to stay technical, going through the hurdles, keeping it fast and technical. I was mainly aiming to beat Cordell and that was the drive and I’m really just happy that I was able to come home with a silver medal,” he added.

Jamaica has a great history in the event at the global level. Since 2012, the country has won five medals at the World Championships and five at the Olympic Games, bettered only by the United States (five at the Olympics and nine at the World Championships).

With Jamaica’s two previous medal winners from major international Championships — Hansle Parchment, the Budapest 2023 silver medal winner, and Rasheed Broadbell, who won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games — affected by injuries this season, Bennett believes the performance by himself and Tyler confirms the country’s depth of talent in the event.

“The biggest inspirations for me have been Omar McLeod, Hansle Parchment and Danielle Williams, all the persons that I have seen coming up through the ranks. It just shows that we have a lot of talent and well, I am basically an elder now, but the youngsters coming up, they are doing so well, so it shows that you have to look out for more in the future and you can’t help but think about Jamaica being one of the best countries in this event.”

Remarkably, Bennett’s track story started with nothing more than a teenage desire to stay fit.

“I basically started track and field because I wanted a hobby. I wanted to get abs so I just did that, then it turned out that I wasn’t that fast, so hurdles was the best thing I could do. Coming through the ranks and with the superstars at Calabar at the time, Dejour Russell, Tyreke Wilson and Christopher Taylor. Started from Carifta, Champs, World Juniors, then it was a bit of a struggle after that finding the remedy,” Bennett recalled.

He added that competing against the world’s best, including world champion Grant Holloway, has also accelerated his growth.

“Holloway is so welcoming, I have spoken to him so many times and he has given me advice. He has helped me in so many ways, even when we are competitors. It has been a journey but the journey is not finished.”

(From left) Cordell Tinch of United States, Orlando Bennett of Jamaica and Rachid Muratake of Japan clear the barriers in the men’s 110m hurdles final during the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

BENNETT… it just turned out that it took five years to get on that podium but, I mean, God does not make mistakes