The track and field scene heated up dramatically last week with two major Diamond League meets featuring the sport’s greatest stars competing with the London Olympics in mind.
In Rome, the first Diamond League meet of the year in Europe attracted nearly 60,000 spectators Thursday night in the 1960 Olympic Stadium. And at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., the Prefontaine Classic saw some brilliant performances Friday and Saturday.
One of the most eagerly anticipated races in Eugene was the 110-meter hurdles that included Denver East grad David Oliver and China’s Liu Xiang. Oliver won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics and posted the fastest time in the world each of the past two seasons. Xiang won a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and is a former world-record holder.
It was no contest Saturday. Xiang won in 12.87 seconds and is looking like the man to beat in London. Oliver appeared to have a problem with his start and finished fifth (13.13).
World-record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba was supposed to appear but didn’t make it to Eugene because of a delay in his visa.
Three Americans finished ahead of Oliver on the track where the Olympic Trials will be held in three weeks — Aries Merritt (12.96), world champion Jason Richardson (13.11) and Dexter Faulk (13.12).
“Not a very good race at all, a lot of contact with Faulk, but that just comes with the event,” Oliver tweeted moments after the race. “Better luck next week.”
The good news is that Oliver is healthy. His world best last year (12.94) came at the Pre meet, but he was hampered the rest of the season with a stress reaction in his right leg. Running in severe pain, he finished fourth at the world championships.
Moments before Oliver’s race, Colorado Buff Emma Coburn finished fifth in the steeplechase and was the top American in a race won by Milcah Chemos of Kenya. Coburn is redshirting the outdoor track season to concentrate on preparing for the trials.
Colorado State graduate Janay DeLoach was third in the long jump.
Bolt bounces back. Some were doubting 100-meter world record holder Usain Bolt after he ran a relatively pedestrian 10.4 in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on May 25. He answered the doubters Thursday night in Rome, going 9.76. Fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell was second in 9.91.
“After Ostrava, a lot of people questioned me,” Bolt said, “but I never questioned myself.”
Franklin in action. Centennial’s Missy Franklin got in her final tuneup before the Olympic Trials this weekend at the Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite in Austin, Texas. Franklin won the 200-meter backstroke and finished second in the 200 free, third in the 100 free and ninth in the 400 free.
Women’s soccer strong. The women’s national team defeated China 4-1 last week in Chester, Pa., the team’s second-to-last domestic match before London.
Alex Morgan scored twice and has 24 goals in 39 appearances for the national team.
The women are 11-1-1 this season and will play June 16-18 against Sweden and Japan in Sweden before returning home for their final U.S. match before the Olympics, June 30 vs. Canada on Real Salt Lake’s home field in Sandy, Utah.
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer @denverpost.com
