by Larry Eder
Notice the focus on both the faces of Oliver and Xiang. David told me afterwards that ” I am very focused. I do not know where anyone is, well, unless they are in front of me. I was aggressive from the start. I had to win the race by the third hurdle.”
In speaking to both David and LIu (through translator) before the race, it is obvious how much respect each athlete has for the other. Along with Dayron Robles, we are speaking to two of the very best 110 meter hurdlers in the world.
Liu Xiang stopped David Olivers’ winning streak at 18 in Shanghai. David told RBR that ” it was was my worst race, ever. But, what was strange, you know, was that I ran 13.18 in my worst race.” David was a bit nervous in the interview on Friday. Perhaps I misinterpreted nervousness for focus, I am not sure. Oliver wanted to win on Saturday.
Liu Xiang is fascinating. It is quite obvious that Mr. Xiang understands English much better than he lets on. I did drop a time into the conversation, which was corrected by his translator, which had been corrected by Liu. He paid much respect to David Oliver and Dayron Robles. He also noted his changes in his hurdling, where he is using a seven step approach now, and noted his core (hips, butt, lower back, quads) were quite sore from this new technique.
David Oliver moves at hurdle three, seven and finally, on the penultimate hurdle. Xiang was reacting. Oliver moved ahead on hurdle eight and began to move hard to the finish. David Olivers’ near perfect lean protected his win, in a world leading 12.94. Liu Xiang is not a quitter, and battled through the finish, running his seasonal best, 13.00 and showing us one of the best 110 meter hurdle races ever. Aries Merritt ran 13.18, his seasonal best, and Andy Turner, European champ, came back from a rough race in Hengelo to run 13.33 here.
Nice hurdling from Deca star Ashton Eaton, who hurdled to a personal best of 13.35. Ryan Wilson ran his seasonal best of 13.41 in fifth and Shi Dongpeng hurdled his seasonal best of 13.44. Ronnie Ash ran 13.49 in eighth place.
Afterwards, David Oliver was still hyped from the race! ” I ran hard from the start, I did not know where Liu was, but I just kept pushing. I felt so good! ”
Look for more races like this over the summer as Oliver, Xiang and hopefully, Robles duke it out!
