Dayron Robles runs an easy looking 13.19 to make it into the 110m hurdles semi finals (© Getty Images)
After the men’s 110m Hurdles first round provided arguably the biggest upset in Olympic history when defending Olympic champion Liu Xiang withdrew through injury, there were no other major casualties in tonight’s quarter finals.
Most impressive of all was, as expected, World record holder Dayron Robles. Like Usain Bolt in the 100m and 200m, the Cuban seems to be in a class of his own, almost super human.
In the second of four races tonight, Robles literally jogged to a 13.19 heat win some 27 hundredths of a second over runner up Artur Noga of Poland. But Noga, himself a World junior champion here in Beijing 2 years ago, and the rest of the field were running flat out. The Netherland’s Gregory Sedoc went virtually unnoticed in third, the last automatic qualifier from this heat as spectators were still taking in the amazing superiority shown by Robles.
The fastest tonight was US champion David Oliver who certainly didn’t run flat out but who, just as certainly, wasn’t as easy as Robles. Oliver controlled former World champion Ladji Doucouré who is making a well timed come back from injury. Both Oliver and Doucouré shut it down in the run in with Oliver stopping the clock at 13.16 and Doucouré at 13.39. Spanish national record holder Jackson Quinones claimed the last qualifying spot in this heat in 13.47.
The opening heat was dominated from start to finish by the second and last American still in contention after Terrence Trammell was also out in the first round through injury. Osaka World bronze medallist David Payne ran an effortless 13.24 ahead of Petr Svoboda of the Czech Republic.
However the 91,000 full house bird’s nest was cheering on neither of them. Their incredibly loud roar was to encourage Shi Dongpeng, the 24-year-old who has for so long been in the shadow of Liu Xiang. Despite an appalling start Shi finished very strong and grabbed third in 13.42. He will defend China’s colours in tomorrow’s semi finals.
In fourth Konstadinos Douvalidis set his second national record in two days this time at 13.46, the Greek also advancing to the semis as the fastest loser.
The weakest of four heats was taken by Maurice Wignall in 13.36, a season’s best for the Jamaican former World indoor bronze medallist. Ryan Brathwaite of Barbados was next at 13.44 with Paulo Villar of Colombia also through at 13.46. Incidentally, Mohammed Issa Al-Thawadi of Qatar was the first athlete since the Athletics events started last 15 August to be disqualified for a false start.
The remaining three qualifying spots went to Richard Phillips of Jamaica, Samuel Coco-Viloin of France and Marcel van der Westen of the Netherlands.
As all athletes now prepare for yet another round, all had words of sympathy for Liu Xiang.
Robles said: “It’s a shame what happened to Liu Xiang. I feel bad for him. I would have liked to race against him.”
Ducouré: “He’s a dear friend of mine and I am so sorry for him, so sorry for China because the Beijing Olympics was his competition.”
Payne: “It’s unfortunate. He’s one of the greatest hurdlers out there. I wish he could have made it to the semis, so we could have had the best race.”
Shi: “It’s a pity. I hope he will get well as soon as possible. Before the competition, Liu Xiang gave me a call to encourage me.”
Just to show how good a person, as well as how good a hurdler, Liu Xiang is.
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
