Liu Xiang's 12.93 unfurls Chinese colours over Stuttgart
(IAAF)
Updated: 2006-09-11 09:55 Liu Xiang stole the show on
day one of the fourth edition of the IAAF World Athletics Final (WAF), when
sprinting to a winning 12.93 seconds, a WAF record in the men's 110m Hurdles on
the brand new green track of the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium in front of
enthusiastic crowd of over 29,000.
Liu Xiang of
China celebrates after winning the 110 metres hurdles event at the IAAF
World Athletics Final in Stuttgart on September 9, 2006.
[Reuters] |
Liu Xiang;s victory was the third fastest time of his career, and his triumph
triggered the waving of dozens of huge national flags by the hundreds of Chinese
fans who had stationed themselves at the end of the 100m straight.
The Olympic champion and World record holder has only run faster when setting
his two world records, in Lausanne this summer (12.88) and when taking his
Olympic crown in Athens (12.91) in 2004.
"The fantastic crowd, the nice atmosphere gave me a lot of confidence," said
Liu Xiang whose start was electric, a reaction time of 0.108.
"I knew I was in good shape, so the time does not surprise me. The number of
Chinese supporters in the stadium was a nice surprise."
The stadium, where at the 1993 World Championships Colin Jackson had set the
original 12.91 World record (12.91) which the Chinese star later equalled, also
inspired young cuban sensation Dayron Robles who tied Anier Garcia's national
record with 13.00, and so edged out four-time World champion Allen Johnson who
capped his successful second part of 2006 with 13.01, a new seasonal best.
The other headliner was Golden League Jackpot winner Asafa Powell who took a
very close 100 metres sprint victory in 9.89 which closed-out an entertaining
first day programme.
Powell broke the tape in 9.89 (a WAF 100m record) in a close race against
World Indoor 60m champion Leonard Scott (9.91) and Tyson Gay (9.92). Powell
dipped under 10 seconds for a 12th time this season and extended his winning
streak to twenty-two consecutive wins (heats included).
"I was concentrating on not getting the second false start, so I stayed in my
blocks a little too long," said the World record holder. “I felt dead in the
first half of the race, but then I told myself that I can run as fast as any of
these guys, and then I picked up my stride and I came through in the end."
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