Robles, Oliver eyeing gold in 110-meter hurdles

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Robles, Oliver eyeing gold in 110-meter hurdles

Posted : 2011-08-12 16:38

Updated : 2011-08-12 16:38

Dayron Robles

The 13th IAAF World Championships in Daegu begin Aug. 27 and The Korea Times will profile famous as well as domestic track and field athletes before the event kicks off. ― ED.

By Yoon Chul

There are various events that grab people’s attention for different reasons. Short-distance events are usually the most popular and the 100- and 200-meter sprints the biggest attraction.

But fans should put the men’s 110-meter hurdles on their watch list.

Many people have recently linked this event to Liu Xiang of China, who became the first Asian gold medalist in a sprint event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

At the Daegu world athletics championships two powerful hurdlers, Dayron Robles of Cuba and David Oliver of the United States will look to stop the Chinese runner winning a third world title.

The 24-year-old Cuban is the world record holder with a time of 12.87 seconds set in June 2008 at the Golden Spike Ostrava meet. He also topped the podium at the Beijing Olympics the same year.

For Robles, the IAAF World Championships is unconquered territory. He was expected to win in Berlin in 2009 but was pulled up in his semifinal with a muscular injury.

Robles returned to the track last season, but he, again, dropped out of the European tour in July due to a nagging leg problem after he ran the season’s best time of 13.01 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The world-record holder returned last September and seems to be back on track.

The Cuban sprinter crossed the finish line first in 13.04 at Crystal Palace, London, in August.

Davis Oliver is another strong contender for the 110-meter hurdles crown.

The Beijing bronze medalist shortened his race time last season.

The 29-year-old started last season by winning four consecutive events including the Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting ahead of Robles.

In May the American beat Chinese hero Liu at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix with a meet record of 12.99.

After breaking 13 seconds several more times, Oliver ran 12.89, the third fastest time in the world, on July 16 in Paris.

Oliver is also the only sprinter to run 13 seconds in 2011. He clocked in at 12.94 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on June 4.

Former world-record holder Liu set his season-best time of 13.00 at the same meet

In Daegu, the world’s top three in this event will compete and their personal bests suggest there is a little to choose between them. Oliver’s fastest time is 12.89 and Liu’s is 12.88, both within .02 seconds of Robles world record.

The slightest mistake or slip in technique could be enough to miss out on the gold medal.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr