The Hindu : Sport : Liu breaks 110m hurdles world record

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 13, 2006

Sport

Sport

Liu breaks 110m hurdles world record

PHOTO: AP

ENTERING THE RECORD BOOKS: China's Liu Xiang had a dream run in the men's 110 metres hurdles.

GENEVA: Liu Xiang refused to listen to everyone who said he'd never become a world-class athlete.

Now, he's a world-record holder.

China's Liu set a new world mark in the 110 metres hurdles on Tuesday, breaking the record he shared with Britain's Colin Jackson. Liu's time of 12.88 seconds at the Athletissima Grand Prix was 0.03 seconds better than the record he matched in winning the gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

``I can't believe it, I can't express it,'' Liu said through a translator. ``I had a good start and after the first five hurdles, it was a perfect race.''

Liu was a high jumper back in fifth grade when he was advised to give up sports after a bone test revealed he would remain too short to become a world-class athlete. He became China's first sprint Olympic gold medallist in Athens, and topped the mark he shared with Jackson, who ran 12.91 seconds in Stuttgart, Germany, in August 1993.

Liu, who switched from high jump to hurdles in 1998, has always done well on this Pontaise track. ``It is my place of good luck and joy. I always feel so good here,'' the Shanghai-born sprinter said.

Jones wins

Meanwhile, former double Olympic champion Marion Jones produced her second sub-11 seconds 100 metres in three days with a comfortable victory in 10.94 seconds.

There were several other high-tempo performances, including three further seasonal bests in the men's 200 metres and the women's 100 metres hurdles and 800 metres.

Out in the field, there was a year's best performance by pole vault world record holder Yelena Isinbayeva who improved on her 4.76-metre jump in Paris three days earlier with a jump of 4.90 metres.

However, she failed to grab the 20th world record of her career after missing her three attempts at 5.02 metres.

America's Xavier Carter set the new benchmark in 200 metres, finishing the race in 19.63 seconds — knocking 0.27 seconds off the time set by Asafa Powell in his native Jamaica last month.

Carter, 20, edged out America's Tyson Gay by 0.07 seconds, and also set a meet record in the process.

Year's best for Perry

American world champion Michelle Perry set the leading time in the world this year in 100 metres hurdles, despite knocking down the final barrier. Perry stayed on her feet to finish in 12.43 seconds.

Kenya's Janeth Jepkosgei held off a spirited challenge from three-time world champion Maria Mutola to win the 800 metres in 1:56.66 seconds — the leading time in the world this year.

Mozambique's Mutola, 33, was second in 1:56.77 seconds.

Leonard Scott led from the front to win a men's 100 metres race, which did not have world and Olympic champion Justin Gatlin, in 10.05 seconds. Gatlin, who shares the world record with Jamaica's Asafa Powell, pulled out of the race earlier in the week because of a knee injury.

The results: Men: 100m: 1. Leonard Scott (USA, 10.05 seconds); 2. Olusoji Fasuba (Nig); 3. Michael Frater (Jam). 200m: 1. Xavier Carter (USA, 19.63 secs); 2. Tyson Gay (USA); 3. Usain Bolt (Jam). 400m: 1. Jermaine Gonzalez (Jam, 44.91 secs); 2. Leslie Djhone (Fra); 3. Carlos Santa (Dom). 800m: 1. Wilfried Bungei (Ken, 1:44.41 secs); 2. William Yiampoy (Ken); 3. Khadevis Robinson (USA). 1,500m: 1. Shadrack Korir (Ken, 3:31.96 secs); 2. Daniel Komen Kipchirchir (Ken); 3. Bernard Lagat (USA). 3,000m: 1. Edwin Soi (Ken, 7:31.84 secs); 2. Abreham Feleke (Eth). 110m hurdles: 1. Liu Xiang (Chi, 12.88 secs — NWR); 2. Dominique Arnold (USA); 3. Terrence Trammell (USA). 400m hurdles: 1. Bershawn Jackson (USA, 47.77 secs); 2. Periklis Iakovakis (Gre); 3. Alwyn Myburgh (RSA). 3,000m steeplechase: 1. Ezekiel Kemboi (Ken, 8:12.79 secs); 2. Richard Matelong (Ken); 3. Reuben Kosgei (Ken). Triple jump: 1. Christian Olsson (Swe, 17.62m); 2. Jadel Gregorio (Bra); 3. Walter Davis (USA).

Women: 100m: 1. Marion Jones (USA, 10.94 secs); 2. Me'Lisa Barber (USA); 3. Torri Edwards (USA). 800m: 1. Janeth Jepkosgei (Ken, 1:56.66 secs); 2. Maria Mutola (Moz); 3. Zulia Calatayud (Cub). 1,500m: 1. Yelena Soboleva (Rus, 3:58.60 secs); 2. Latifa Essarokh (Fra); 3. Maryam Jamal (Bah). 100m hurdles: 1. Michelle Perry (USA, 12.43 secs); 2. Damu Cherry (USA); 3. Brigitte Foster-Hylton (Jam). High jump: 1. Chaunte Howard (USA, 1.99m); 2. Yelena Slesarenko (Rus); 3. Amy Acuff (USA). Pole vault: 1. Yelena Isinbayeva (Rus, 4.90m); 2. Monika Pyrek (Pol); 3. Svetlana Feofanova (Rus). Triple jump: 1. Tatyana Lebedeva (Rus, 15.19m); 2. Yargelis Savigne (Cub); 3. Anna Pyatykh (Rus). Javelin: 1. Barbora Spotakova (Cze, 65.89m); 2. Steffi Nerius (Ger); 3. Christina Scherwin (Den). — Agencies