Volume 10, No. 25 May 15, 2011 — Shanghai DL: Xiang Liu Is Back — by Roy Conrad But this time, it was all the former WR sure of your own race and not be affected Shanghai, China, May 15—Xiang Liu holder’s show. He has changed his start, by other athletes.” might have had a better setting for his first taking seven strides to the first barrier rather Oliver commented, “I just pro circuit race in a year, but it’s hard to than eight. It appeared to make a world of underperformed tonight and lost to a better see how. difference as Liu, in lane 5, rocketed off the hurdler, I’ll just get ready for my next meet The 27-year-old Shanghai native line to an immediate lead over the slower- and train harder and work harder for my brought some 30,000 fans to their feet at the starting American in 4. next performance.” second stop on the ’11 Samsung Diamond Liu led all the way, taking a quick peek Liu’s victory now puts his career record League circuit and gave them full reason to his left after clearing the final obstacle. versus Oliver at 8-1, the American’s single to roar with delight as he turned back last He was safe, although Oliver made up win coming last year in Shanghai. year’s barriers lord David Oliver, 13.07– some of the margin in the late going. But Jamaican sprint power showed itself in both 100s as Veronica Campbell- Oliver could only grimace as Brown and Asafa Powell held off determined charges by American Liu made a stunning return challengers. to the big-time Campbell-Brown’s sharp start gave her a two-foot lead over Carmelita Jeter, which VCB held for about 70 meters. Then Jeter began clawing back but she couldn’t quite make up all the room as Campbell- Brown won in a year-pacing 10.92 (wind +1.2) ahead of Jeter’s 10.95, her second-fastest time of the young season. “I thought I executed well and I felt strong in the race,” said Campbell-Brown. “But it’s early in the season [and] I have a lot to work on. There’s a lot of room for ERROL ANDERSON/THE SPORTING IMAGE ANDERSON/THE SPORTING ERROL improvement.” Added Jeter, “Veronica had a really good start. I wasn’t as good as I was supposed to be.” Before this meet, concerns were raised by Powell’s previous competition, an eased-up 21.40 for 8th and last in the Kingston 200 on May 7. He had felt a hamstring 13.18 (0.2mps wind). the Howard alum slammed barriers 8 & 9 tighten after coming off the turn and slowed Recovering from Achilles tendon to blunt his charge. to prevent serious injury. surgery in ’08, then rebuilding his hurdles Aries Merritt finished 3rd in 13.24, his But in his yearly century debut, Powell prowess the last two years, Liu’s last fastest legal-wind time since ’08. got a solid start and held his slight lead invitational appearance came in the ’10 Said Liu, “I didn’t expect much from over American Mike Rodgers for the entire DL contest in—where else?—Shanghai my new technique. It was just a try. I need distance. Rodgers kept whittling away the when he placed 3rd in 13.40 as Oliver won to be patient because sometimes when you gap and Powell slowed noticeably in the in 12.99. are trying a new technique, you have to be final 10 meters. But the Jamaican held on -199- May 15, 2011 looks to be in fine form for a — Shanghai DL — Worlds defense as she won in a Samsung Diamond League #2; Shang- 2011 Men’s World Leaders year-leading 14:31.92. hai, China, May 15 (attendance 30,000)— ¶ = record performance; i = indoors; Despite a sagging pace in the new leaders since last report are in red 100(0.3): 1. Powell (Jam) 9.95; 2. Rodg- middle of the race, the Kenyan ers (US) 10.01; 3. Forsythe (Jam) 10.12; 4. Track Events outran Ethiopia’s Sentayehu Martina (Hol) 10.19; 100........... 9.90 ........................Steve Mullings (Jamaica) Ejigu (14:32.87), who was 5. Edwards (US) 10.31; 6. Zhang (Chn) 200........... 19.95 .................Nickel Ashmeade (Jamaica) nearly caught by a furious close 10.36; 7. Lao (Chn) 10.37; 8. Takahira (Jpn) 400........... 44.65 ......... Rondell Bartholomew (Grenada) from Worlds 10,000 winner 10.51;… fs—Saidy Ndure (Nor). 800........... 1:43.88 ...................... David Rudisha (Kenya) Linet Masai (14:32.95). 400: 1. C. Smith (US) 45.47; 2. Nixon (US) 1500 ........ 3:31.42 ...................Nixon Chepseba (Kenya) Olympic 1500 champion 45.50; 3. Neville (US) 45.58; 4. Kanemaru Mile .......... 3:54.52i ...........................Chris Solinsky (US) Asbel Kiprop couldn’t respond (Jpn) 45.85; 5. Brenes (CRC) 45.99; 6. Yousif (Sud) St ............. 8:02.28 ......................Brimin Kipruto (Kenya) to the final-stretch kick of 46.03; 7. Wroe (Aus) 46.88; 8. Chen (Chn) 3000......... 7:27.76 ................ Alamirew Yenew (Ethiopia) Kenyan countryman Nixon 46.97 PR. 5000......... 12:53.29i ...................... Isaiah Koech (Kenya) Chepseba, who ran his second 1500: 1. Chepseba (Ken) 3:31.42 10,000...... 27:13.67 ....................... Bidan Karoki (Kenya) PR/world leader in as many PR (WL); 2. Kiprop (Ken) 3:31.76; 3. 110H ........ 13.07 .................................. Xiang Liu (China) races, this one at 3:31.42. He Gebremedhin (Eth) 3:32.36; 4. Kiplagat (Ken) 400H ........ 47.66(A) .................LJ van Zyl (South Africa) had won the DL (l-alt) ... 47.73 ......................LJ van Zyl (South Africa) opener in Doha Road Events a week ago at 2011 Women’s World Leaders 3:31.84. HMar ........ 58:30 ..................... Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea) Track Events Kiprop Mar .......... 2:04:40 ...................Emmanuel Mutai (Kenya) 100........... 10.86 ..............................Carmelita Jeter (US) followed at (aided) .... 2:03:02' ..................... Geoffrey Mutai (Kenya) 200 .......... 22.38 ..................................Allyson Felix (US) 3:31.76 and while 20W ......... 1:18:30 .............................Zhen Wang (China) 400........... 50.33 ..................................Allyson Felix (US) disappointed, he 50W ......... 3:35:28 ........................Yohann Diniz (France) 800........... 1:58.14i .................Yuliya Rusanova (Russia) noted, “I’m better Relay Events 1500......... 4:01.47i .................Abebe Arigawa (Ethiopia) this year than last 4 x 100..... 38.33 .................................................. Jamaica Mile .......... 4:28.60i ......................... Jenny Simpson (US) year. I did 3:32 last 4x 200...... 1:20.45 ...................................................... LSU St ............. 9:16.44 .....................Milcah Chemos (Kenya) year and now 3:31. 4 x 400..... 3:00.45 .......................................... Texas A&M 3000......... 8:30.26i ...............Sentayehu Ejigu (Ethiopia) So it’s a good start 4 x 800..... 7:12.15 ........................................Virginia (US) 5000 ........ 14:31.92 .................Vivian Cheruiyot (Kenya) to the season.” 4 x Mile .... 16:19.98 .................................. Princeton (US) 10,000...... 30:38.65 ......................Sally Kipyego (Kenya) Notable on SpMed ..... 3:15.18 .......................................... Texas A&M 100H ........ 12.58 .................................... Kellie Wells (US) the field was the DisMed .... 9:17.48 .............................................. Morocco 400H ........ 54.20 ...................Kaliese Spencer (Jamaica) long jump win by 4 x 110H .. 55.10 .............................Central Florida Stars Aussie Mitchell Road Events Field Events Watt. HMar ........ 65:50 ¶ ........................ Mary Keitany (Kenya) HJ ............ 7-9¾ (2.38)i ......Ivan Ukhov (Russia) 3 times The ’09 Worlds Mar .......... 2:19:19 ......................... Mary Keitany (Kenya) PV ............ 19-9¼ (6.03)i .......Renaud Lavillenie (France) bronze medalist 20W ......... 1:25:08 ¶ ...................Vera Sokolova (Russia) LJ ............ 27-8¼ (8.44) .......Mitchell Watt (Australia) (2) matched his PR Relay Events TJ ............ 58-9½ (17.92)i .... Teddy Tamgho (France) (2) 27-8¼ (8.44) from 4 x 100..... 42.28 ....................................... USA Red Penn SP ............ 71-3¼ (21.72) ......Dylan Armstrong (Canada) his nationals in 4 x 200..... 1:29.96 ..................................Texas A&M (US) DT ............ 221-5 (67.49) .............. Gerd Kanter (Estonia) April. 4 x 400..... 3:22.92 .................................... USA Red Penn HT ............ 267-6 (81.54) .......Aleksey Zagornyi (Russia) He hit that mark 4 x 800..... 8:06.24i ...............................Moscow (Russia) JT ............ 279-11 (85.33) .......Sergey Makarov (Russia) again on his sixth 4 x 1500... 17:25.19 .................................Boston College ................ 279-11 (85.33) ........Tero Pitkämäki (Finland) leap after taking SpMed ..... 3:34.64 ............................................... Jamaica Dec .......... 8397 ..........................Yordanis García (Cuba) the led in second DisMed .... 10:51.49 ..............................Georgetown (US) frame with 27-4½ 4 x 100H .. 53.41 ............................................. Texas A&M to win in a world-leading 9.95, 0.06 ahead (8.34). Field Events of Rodgers. Reigning world champ HJ ............ 6-8¼ (2.04)i ...... Antonietta Di Martino (Italy) “I didn’t want to push it too hard Dwight Phillips managed only PV ............ 15-11¼ (4.86)(A)i ................... Jenn Suhr (US) th tonight,” said Powell, “[so] I’m surprised it a 26-5¾ (8.07) best for 4 in his (l-alt) .... 15-11 (4.85)i .........Yelena Isinbaeva (Russia) was a sub-10. It was a good win; I felt very season-opening competition. ................. 15-11 (4.85)i ......... Anna Rogowska (Poland) confident