The Hindu : Sport / Olympic Games : Liu Xiang sets new mark

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 29, 2004

Sport

Sport - Olympic Games

Liu Xiang sets new mark

By S. Thyagarajan

ATHENS, AUG. 28. China's Liu Xiang shattered the Olympic record set by his boyhood hero, Allen Johnson, in 110m hurdles clocking 12.91seconds. The effort also saw Liu equalling Colin Jackson's 11-year-old World record set in 1993 at Stuttgart.

The night also witnessed another Chinese, Huina Xing, clinching the gold in the women's 10000 metres, beating the complacent Ethiopian stars, Dibaba and Tulu.

Mack Timothy of United States and Osleidys Menendez of Cuba also set new marks in men's pole vault (5.95m) and women's javelin throw (71.53m) respectively.

Tragic, however, was the failure of the US 4x100m relay team to complete the race after having botched up a baton exchange between Marion Jones and Lyura Williams at the third bend. Jamaica, anchored by Veronica Campbell, won the gold with a time of 41.73, a national record.

In long jump, Russians made a clean sweep, while India's hopes perished with Anju Bobby George finishing sixth after a splendid opening jump. And the focus now shifts to the Indian 4X400m women's relay squad as it entered the final.

Liu's show

The race of the evening was the 110m hurdles. Liu was the favourite after the exit of Allen Johnson in the semifinals. The 21-year-old Shehangai-born Liu had clocked 13.06 at the Osaka GP this year, and won the bronze at the World Championship.

Liu touched the tape 0.27s ahead of the silver medallist Terrence Tramell of US — the biggest winning margin since 1988 Olympics when Roger Kingdom (US) won with 12.98s pushing Colin Jackson to the second place at 13.28s.

Liu shot off from the blocks from lane four, cleared hurdle after hurdle with ease and sprinted to the finish line for the defining moment of his career. While France's Ladji, who was expected to give Liu a tough fight, struggled in the final stages and lost out, Latvania's Stanislavs Olijars picked up the silver at 13.18s followed by Anier Garcia of Cuba with a time of 13.20s.

A surprise winner

Huina Xing made a great come back to end the Ethiopian domination in 10000 metres. There was nothing to suggest that the Chinese was in contention and the focus was on Dibaba and two-time Olympic champion, Tulu.

Britain's Paula Radcliffe's nightmare continued as she dropped out of the race after six km. Her quest to defend the marathon title had ended in tears last Sunday.

"Exhaustion forced me to stop marathon after 30 km. Today it was my legs that forced me out of the race," Radcliffe said.

It was very hot inside the stadium as the competitors battled it out. About 20 metres from the finish line, Xing outwitted Dibaba clocking 30:24.36, improving her season's best of 30:31.55.

"Winning the gold was beyond my expectation. I am so happy about it. I think our efforts deserve a reward," said a beaming Xing.

"I thought I had won. I'm really surprised that I don't have the gold. I missed the Chinese athlete completely. Had I seen her, I would have put in more effort and passed her," said Dibaba.

Timothy vaults to gold

Toby Stevenson of US, the only man to clear six metres this season, was the pre-event favourite in pole vault.

But he stood aghast as his compatriot Timothy walked away with the gold. Timothy had finished sixth at Paris last year at 5.70m.

The 31-year-old from Cleveland (Ohio) obtained a smooth run up and soared with perfect balance from the flip. He failed once at 5.85m and cleared 5.95m in the third try.

Toby was unsuccessful in his three vaults at this height (5.95m) leaving the field for Timothy. The three attempts at 6.00m were not fruitful.

Timothy had to be contended with the Olympic record which was shared by three — Andrei Tivotchik (Germany), Igor Trandenkov (Russia) and Jean Galifone (France) — set at Atlanta in 1996.

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