Stuttgart, Germany - China's 110m hurdles world record holder Liu Xiang and
Jamaica's 100 metres world record holder Asafa Powell made the most impressive
marks on the opening day of the IAAF World Grand Prix finals.
Powell ran yet another sub 10 second race though he didn't threaten his
record of 9.77sec and Liu made a stunning return to the international circuit
after taking time off since breaking the world mark in July in Lausanne.
Xiang Liu of China
celebrates after winning the 110 metres hurdles event at the IAAF World
Athletics Final in Stuttgart September 9, 2006.
[Reuters] |
Liu timed 12.93sec in the event and admitted to not feeling too surprised at
his excellent run.
"I felt really well before the race and I knew I was in really good shape,"
said the 23-year-old Olympic champion.
"After my world record (12.88sec breaking Colin Jackson's 13 year old mark of
12.91) I returned to Beijing and got a lot of rest," added Liu.
However Liu promised more of the same at the World Cup in Athens next
weekend.
"The World Cup has been my end of season objective and that is why I didn't
give it my all," said Liu.
Unlike Liu, Powell was undecided about the World Cup.
"I feel a little tired, the season has been long but a rich one," said
Powell, who started way back in March at the Commonwealth Games where he won the
100m title.
"I will see whether I run in Athens next week."
Powell admitted that he had not threatened his world record because he was
nervous of false starting.
"There had already been one so I didn't want to be disqualified for doing the
second one. I am not disappointed in my time at all."
Elsewhere America's Olympic and world 400m champion Jeremy Wariner continued
his dominance of the event as he won with something in hand.
"It has been a long season but my best run since London," said Wariner, who
is with Clyde Hart the coach of world record holder Michael Johnson.
"It is a great way to finish the season but I had to dig down deep."
His performance spurred on Democratic Republic of Congo runner Gary Kikaya,
who broke Nigerian Innocent Egbunike's 19-year-old African record in the 400
metres.
The 28-year-old timed 44.10 seconds in finishing second to Wariner eclipsing
Egbunike's time of 44.17sec set in August 1987.
Kikaya, who was formerly coached by controversial handler Trevor Graham, said
he was delighted to have run Wariner so close.
"I am surprised nevertheless to have been so close to him (Wariner)," said
Kikaya, who is one of eight children and lived in South Africa for 10 years when
his father was ambassador there.
"However it is only human to try."
