Liu Xiang of China in action in the opening round of the men's 110m Hurdles (© Getty Images)
Daegu, KoreaRyan Brathwaite’s defence of his world title came to a premature end when the 23-year-old from Barbados was run out in the heats of the 110m Hurdles on Sunday morning.
Brathwaite, who enjoyed a dream run to take the gold medal in Berlin two years ago, finished fifth in the first heat. With only the first three guaranteed a spot in Monday night’s semi-finals, he had to hope he placed among the next four fastest.
On this year’s form – Brathwaite’s season best is 13.54 – it was not such a shock, but he became the third World or Olympic champion in two days to make a first round or qualifying competition exit following the day one demise of Steve Hooker (Pole Vault) and Christine Ohuruogu (Olympic 400m).
Liu Xiang won the heat in 13.20, showing good form over the hurdles and slowing to a trot to cross the line 0.02 ahead of Britain’s 2010 European champion Andrew Turner.
Fittingly, though, the fastest time of the round was the 13.19 by Jason Richardson of the US in the second heat, continuing his progression through the season. Richardson was over a metre clear of another medal contender, Dwight Thomas of Jamaica.
David Oliver of USA, the only man under 13 seconds this season, won heat three in 13.27, two metres clear of China’s World Student Games silver medallist Jiang Fan.
Aries Merritt then made it three heat wins out of three for USA, taking the final heat in 13.36, slowest of the round. Olympic champion Dayron Robles was second and there was a dead-heat for third between China’s Shi Dongpeng and Paulo Villar of Colombia.
The semi-finals and final will be held on Monday night with the three fastest men in the world all-time – Oliver, Liu and Robles – tipped to fight for the medals. It is hurdles, however, so expect the unexpected.
Brathwaite provided that in Berlin. It is now up to someone else. We shall see.
Len Johnson for the IAAF
