OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Cuba’s Dayron Robles took the world record away from Liu Xiang, challenging the Chinese hurdler’s status as prohibitive favorite going into his homeland’s Olympics.
Xiang, the defending Olympic and world champion, has dominated the 110-meter hurdles the past few years. He is considered China’s best hope for gold on the track at the Beijing Games.
But Robles shaved 0.01 seconds off Xiang’s record Thursday night at the Golden Spike meet, winning in 12.87 seconds.
Terrence Trammell of the United States was second in 13.21, followed by Sergey Demiduk of Ukraine in 13.42.
CSU’s DeLoach finishes sixth
DES MOINES, Iowa — Brittney Reese didn’t let a sore leg prevent her from matching her world-leading mark in the long jump.
The Mississippi junior soared 22 feet, 9 inches on her third jump under mostly clear conditions at Drake Stadium to add an NCAA championship to her already impressive season.
Colorado State senior Janay DeLoach finished sixth with a jump of 21-3 1/4.
Walter Dix, the defending 100 and 200 champion from Florida State, easily advanced to the finals of the 200. He won his semifinal 200 heat in 20.51, easing up well before the finish line.
Colorado’s Jeremy Dodson finished 13th at 20.84 and did not advance to Saturday’s finals.
“It appeared to me that he might have been a little too aggressive in the first 70 or 80 meters of the race,” Buffs coach Mark Wetmore said.
In the final event of the night, the men’s 10,000-meter run, CU junior Chris Pannone finished 18th in 30:13.30.
Celriece Law, a graduate of Montbello High School competing for Tennessee, advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 100 hurdles with a time of 13.31.
Denver Post wire services
