Liu celebrates big day with Lausanne win
Cold weather may have put a world record attempt on ice, but 110m hurdles star Liu Xiang warmed up for his birthday celebrations in style with a third straight victory at the Lausanne Grand Prix on Tuesday.
The world record holder, who turns 24 tomorrow, won in a time of 13.01 seconds. Anwar Moore of the United States finished second in 13.12 and Aries Merritt came in third clocking 13.18.
"It's not bad. I will continue to go forward one step at a time. I am looking forward to better results in future races. Right now, I will be in a good mood to celebrate my birthday," Liu told Sohu.com.
Liu and his coach Sun Haiping fly to Sheffield in northern England today, and after low-key birthday celebrations he will wrap up his European tour at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix on July 15th.
"We've got him a birthday cake," said coach Sun. "The win is a great gift and also a boost for his confidence ahead of the race in England."
Lucky track
Last year in Lausanne Liu ran 12.88 to top the world record he previously shared with Britain's Colin Jackson.
"Every time I come here it is like traveling rather than a competition. I felt relaxed, and now I'm even happier after winning the event for a third time," said Liu.
Before the race Liu had expressed his intention of setting a new world record - if conditions were right.
"If the weather and track condition are better than last year, it is likely that I will run around 12.85," Liu told Titan Sports a day before the competition. "But I do not mean it will happen tomorrow. It is an accomplishment I am looking to achieve in the future."
However during Tuesday's race time the temperature was just 11 C, making a record attempt impossible.
Liu was still satisfied with his performance.
"It felt great to come back to Lausanne even if the weather wasn't good," Liu said.
"It's a little chilly today, but I raced well and got a satisfactory result," added Liu. "The Paris GP was the first race of my European tour, and I felt a little tired and was not quite in form, but the time of 13.15 was acceptable. In Lausanne, I was getting better and fine tuning."
Liu was beaten by Cuba's Dayron Robles and Moore at Friday's Golden League in Paris, but he was unable to get revenge in Lausanne as the Cuban pulled out of Tuesday's race.
With world champion Ladji Doucoure of France also absent the competition became a showdown between China and the United States, seeing Liu and Shi Dongpeng square off with six Americans.
Liu ran almost head-to-head with veteran Allen Johnson through the first few hurdles before sprinting strongly into the lead over the final three.
"I'm running fast and I have the record of 12.88, but the mark is also a tough barrier to get past. It's extremely formidable to challenge this high-point, it's not something I can expect to do," Liu told Xinhua News Agency. "I feel the great expectations of the fans, but to tell the truth it's not easy for me to maintain the status quo. Everybody should be happy with what I have done."
Coach Sun said the key to maintaining his advantage is improved starting.
"Liu's start was 0.03-0.04 seconds slower than his opponents in the past, so we must work on that.
"We actually did very well in the two races. But it takes time for him to adapt to the new skills. In Paris Liu started well, but the follow-up rhythm was less good."
Sun said Liu did not make the same mistake in Lausanne, speeding up from the third hurdle and maintaining a good rhythm.
But Sun played down the victory insisting the biggest challenges will be from Robles and Doucoure, rather than the Americans, at the world championships in August in Japan and next year's Olympic Games.
"Liu has to run between 12.90-12.95 if he wants to defend his gold medal at Beijing Games.
"Robles and Doucoure are young and have best times within 13 seconds. They are the most dangerous rivals in the future."
Liu won the 2004 Athens Olympic Games in a time of 12.91 and he ran 12.92, the fastest time recorded this year, in New York in June.
(China Daily 07/12/2007 page22)
