David Oliver avenged his loss last month to Liu Xiang and Steve Mullings delivered another stellar 100m performance on Saturday at the Prefontaine Diamond League athletics meeting.
Oliver won the 110m hurdles in a blazing 12.94 seconds to edge Liu, China’s former world-record holder who had stopped the American’s 20-win streak at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting on May 15.
Oliver’s time was the fastest in the world in this World Championships season, improving on the 13.07 seconds previously posted by both Liu and Cuban Dayron Robles.
Jamaica’s Mullings won the 100m in a sizzling 9.80 seconds.
In another explosive sprint performance, American Carmelita Jeter won the women’s 100m in a world-leading 10.70 seconds.
Mullings came into Saturday with a world leading 9.89 seconds, set at a low-key meeting in Clermont, Florida, last month.
His American training partner Tyson Gay bettered that at another meeting in Clermont on Saturday, running a 9.79 seconds in a wind of 1.1m/sec.
Mullings credited Gay with helping him define his focus and improve his times this year.
“I just figured out how to do it,” he said. “The last couple of years I always rushed my first third. Now I’m more patient.”
Mullings said that he was exhausted after flying in from Europe just days before.
“My body’s ripped up right now. I’m hurting,” Mullings said. “I’m hurting bad. I was a little bit jet-lagged. I expected to get in the 80s, but I didn’t expect to go 9.8. It was a great feeling.”
American Michael Rodgers was second in 9.85 seconds and fellow Jamaican Nesta Carter third in 9.92 seconds in a race run in a wind of 1.3m/sec.
Former Olympic and world champion Justin Gatlin, returning to the meeting after serving a four-year doping ban, finished sixth in 9.97 seconds.
He said he came up early in his drive because of tightness in his quadriceps, an ailment he has been having treated.
However, Gatlin said his sights remained firmly on booking a World Championships berth at the US trials later this month.
“I have a big heart, a big appetite for competition,” Gatlin said. “That’s my goal right now, to make the world team.”
Liu, trying to regain his 110m hurdles dominance after an Achilles injury battle that scuppered his 2008 Beijing Olympics bid, led Oliver to the first hurdle by the barest of margins.
However, the big American had powered past by the third hurdle en route to a blistering early season time in a race run with a wind of 1.8m/sec.
Liu, who had ended Oliver’s 20-race winning streak in the event at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting on May 15, was second 13 seconds. American Aries Merritt was third in 13.18 seconds.
“I’m just happy for a good performance,” said Oliver, adding that he knew from the opening strides that he was in a good rhythm. “I took care of business at the start — like I didn’t do in Shanghai.”
Liu wasn’t happy with technical flaws at the end of his race, but pronounced himself “very happy” with the time.
“I feel very good for the timing,” he said, but added: “Close to the finish, my speed and power were not good.”
For Jeter, controlling her race was more important than the time.
“I just wanted to execute a good race. I wanted to put a good race together,” Jeter said. “Last couple of races, I was running other -people’s races and not my race, but today I wanted to come out and run Carmelita’s race.”
Marshevet Myers was second in 10.86 seconds and Jamaican Kerron Stewart third in 10.87 seconds.
Shelly-Ann Fraser, who has been nursing a sore back, was fourth in 10.95 seconds.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles. Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff. Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well. “I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with
When 42-1 underdog James ‘Buster’ Douglas shocked ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson 34 years ago at the Tokyo Dome, the result reverberated worldwide. Spectators at the 45,000-plus seater venue witnessed one of boxing’s biggest upsets as unbeaten heavyweight champion Tyson was knocked out in the 10th round by the unheralded Douglas in February 1990. Boxing returns to the famous venue on Monday for the first time since that unforgettable encounter when Japan’s undisputed super-bantamweight world champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue puts his belts on the line against Mexican Luis Nery. The 31-year-old Inoue (26-0, 23 KOs) is a huge star in Japan and is just
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at