(Aug. 1, 2009): Ryan Brathwaite is on the rise. The 21-yr-old Barbadian hurdler is showing signs that he could be a force to be reckoned with in Berlin and beyond.
After ending an excellent career at Barton County Community College in the US in May 2009, Brathwaite has been spending his summer, particularly on the European circuit, proving that he is qualified to compete and beat some of the world’s best in the 110m hurdles.
Brathwaite is on the right path to higher success as he lowered Barbados's record to 13.23 secs. on July 15 in Luzern, Switzerland after setting the record at 13.30 at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York on May 30 this year.
In New York, he ran third behind the US pair of Terrence Trammel (13.12) and Aries Merritt (13.28).
Commenting on his record-breaking performance at Reebok, Ryan, who was fresh from defending his 110m hurdles (13.61) title at the National Junior College Championships in Arkansas a week earlier, told Caribbean Tracklife Magazine that he gave 70% for his 3rd place finished and that he had already qualified and would be ready for Berlin in August.
His defining moment so far this summer, happened Saturday, July 24 in the high hurdles at the London Grand Prix, when he forced the world record holder and reigning Olympics champion, Cuba’s Dayron Robles, to dig deep for a win. Dayron won the event in 13.29 and Ryan finished 2nd in 13.31. For his efforts, Ryan got a huge hug from Dayron signifying respect, and has served notice to the US tandem of David Payne, Terrence Trammel and Dexter Faulk.
International competition is nothing new for Ryan who won the CAC Junior Championship in 2006 and has participated in the 2007 World Championship in Osaka and the 2008 Beijing Olympics, making it to the semi-final of both events. Berlin will be the perfect venue for the Bridgetown native to make it to the final, where he is expected to have an impact.
As a junior, Ryan won the CARIFTA under-20 110m hurdles two consecutive years in 2006 and 2007, setting the current record of 13.42 in 2007.
Ryan ran a wind-aided 13.05 (+3.6) in the event at the Texas Invitational in early May. At the Athens Grand Prix on July 13 in Greece, Ryan finished 2nd in 13.22 (+2.30) behind USA’s Joel Brown (13.18).