SHANGHAI, China (Sporting Alert) — Xiang Liu was in stunning form at the Samsung Diamond League Meet in Shanghai on Saturday night after the Chinese hurdler sizzled to a world-leading time to win the men’s 110m Hurdles.
Liu, the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medallist, who is coming back from a series of injuries that barred him from defending his crown in Beijing, four-years-ago, produced a world-leading 12.97 seconds to take down a very strong field in the rain.
David Oliver chased hard in the closing meters, but came up short and finished second at 13.13. Another American hurdler, world champion Jason Richardson, was third in 13.16 – both hurdlers running seasonal bests as well.
Williams-Mills Impressive Again
In another impressive outing this season, Jamaican world-leader Novlene Williams-Mills sounded another warning to her rivals with a 50seconds flat timing to take the women’s 400m.
Williams-Mills, who posted the world’s fastest time of 49.99secs earlier this month to win the Jamaica Invitational, shockingly chased down world champion Amantle Montsho of Botswana and then beat her by two-metres.
Montsho took second in 50.83, with third going to 400m hurdles specialist Kaliese Spencer of Jamaica in 51.81 and fourth too her compatriot Shericka Williams (52.21).
Powell Takes Men’s 100m
Asafa Powell won the men’s 100 metres.
The Jamaican, who opened the season with a 9.88 seconds clocking, ran 10.02 secs in a slight headwind to beat American Mike Rodgers, who stopped the clock at 10.08.
World Indoor 60m silver medallist Nesta Carter (JAM) picked up third in 10.16.
Campbell-Brown Holds Off Travelling Jeter
Veronica Campbell-Brown had to dig deep, deep into her reserves to hold off the fight from American Carmelita Jeter to win the women’s 200m in a wind-aided 22.50secs (+2.8).
Jeter finished second in 22.62 after stuttering on her steps towards the end of the race as the rain came down, while third went to Blessing Okagbare of Nigeria in 22.71.
American Angelo Taylor fended off the challenge from his fellow countryman Justin Gaymon to win the men’s 400m hurdles in the seasonal best time of 48.98secs.
Gaymon also produced his best time of the year when clocking 49.07, with Wen Cheng of China taking third in 49.59 (SB).
But it was a disappointing outing for South African L.J. van Zyl, who only ran 50.38 for fifth. USA’s Bershawn Jackson did not start.
More Good Performances
The women’s 1500m saw Genzebe Dibaba producing a world-leading, meeting and Ethiopian national record of 3:57.77 for victory.
Abeba Arigawe, also of Ethiopia ran a quick race as well to take third with a personal best time of 3:59.23.
Elsewhere, Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia won the men’s 5000m in a world-leading 13:11.00, which also a meeting record.
However, it was another unimpressive showing – by his standards, from world record holder Kenenisa Bekele, who faded to fifth a time of 13:13.89.
FIELD EVENTS
World-lead and Reese Hoffa of USA won the men’s Shot Put with a mark of 20.98m – edging Canadian Dylan Armstrong (20.93), with Ryan Whiting (20.73) and Christian Cantwell (20.57) of USA taking third and fourth, respective.
Vítezslav Vesely of the Czech Republic won the men’s Javelin Throw with a mark of 85.40m. Norway’s Andreas Thorkildsen was fourth with a throw of 79.53m, while Tero Pitkämäki of Finland was only fifth with 77.99.
Steven Hooker no marked in the men’s Pole Vault event won by China’s Yansheng Yang (5.65), while USA’s Janay DeLoach won the women’s Long Jump with a jump of 6.73m and Phillips Idowu of Great Britain took the men’s Triple with an effort of 17.24.
