Chinese Olympic champion Liu Xiang ran his trademark 110m
hurdles event in 12.92 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York
on Saturday, setting the year's best performance in the
discipline.
United States hurdlers Terrence Trammell, two-time Olympic
runner-up, grabbed the silver in 12.95 seconds with Ryan Wilson
third in 13.02 seconds, in what proved to be a very fast pace.
Dominique Arnold was earlier disqualified for a false start at the
second warning.
Trammell bolted from the starting-blocks but Liu pulled back to
go head-to-head until the eighth hurdle when a turn of speed by the
Chinese star gave him the win by a hair's breadth.
The Shanghai star reminded reporters that though Olympic gold
was his principal goal, he was remaining focused on the upcoming
World Championships in Osaka. Liu finished third and second in 2003
and 2005 respectively and is determined to win this time.
"I really want to see what winning the gold feels like this
time," he said. "Osaka is my lucky track, and I hope it brings me
success again."
Liu first equaled the world record in 2004 to become Olympic
gold medalist in Athens in 12.91 before smashing the 13-year-old
world mark by running in 12.88 at the Super Grand Prix in Lausanne
in July last year. These performances have elevated Liu to the rank
of national icon in China.
?(Xinhua News Agency June 4, 2007)
