World record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba flies over a hurdle in the 60m hurdle heats in Doha (© Getty Images)
Now if there is one event at these IAAF World Indoor Championships which deserves front page spotlight that is the men’s 60m Hurdles. Indeed it has all the ingredients for a succulent recipe.
Throw in the defending champion, the national hero for over 1 billion people, a former World outdoor record holder, World champion and Olympic champion; add to that the reigning Olympic champion and reigning World outdoor record holder and mix with the two-time winner of the event indoors and the season’s fastest hurdler you can get nothing but an exciting combination.
Liu Xiang, albeit recovering from a tendon injury, Dayron Robles and Terrence Trammell haven’t competed in the same race since the Osaka World Championships final in 2007 and it may be that Doha will offer the fans what they have missed out on for almost 3 years if all three make it to Sunday’s final.
To be totally honest, this evening’s opening round of the men’s 60m Hurdles looked more like a bureaucratic formality than pure sprinting as only seven men who lined up behind their blocks were actually eliminated from the first round and that included two who did not finish – false starter Paulo Villar of Colombia and former World outdoor champion Ladji Doucouré of France who crashed out injured from heat four after just two hurdles.
Trammell was the first of our golden trio to compete as the US champion ruled over heat 2. The double Olympic silver medallist was extremely powerful over the obstacle and it mattered little that he hit the third on his way to the day’s equal fastest time of 7.60. Trammell was unfazed by the disqualification of Villar from his heat.
Trammell said: “I just tried to go ahead, focus on my race, and not to worry about distraction. I've already been here before. I made it through as safely as possible.”
Liu, who has only competed once indoors this winter was next up; the Chinese golden boy didn’t look as fluent as he’s used to be especially over the hurdle but one can tell that his talent hasn’t faded despite a year-and-a-half of fighting off his injury.
“I am very excited to be here,” said Liu. “I feel very relaxed. My tendon is sore. I feel like I have no energy, no power in it. So, my goal is to get into the final. When I told it to Trammell, he did not believe me. But this time it is true. My real target is to be in the final, no medals, nothing else. I think, the gold is impossible this time. I do not believe in any medal. I still feel very uncomfortable due to the injury.”
Liu ran a conservative race and was content with third in heat 3 – the top four from each heat advanced + the four fastest so there was really not much to worry about for him. Ahead of him Russia’s indoor record holder Evgeniy Borisov held off Germany’s Helge Schwarzer for the heat win 7.74 to 7.76. Liu’s 7.79 was an improved of almost three tenths of a second of his season’s best to prove that there is still a lot to come from the Chinese.
Last but not least, Robles took what he described as an “easy” win in the fifth and final heat. The Cuban champion, who was the outright favourite for gold two years ago in Valencia but did not make it past the opening round because of a poor misjudgement at the start of his heat, had what looked like a primary school boy start today.
Confident and relaxed he didn’t look a bit worried to be last out of the blocks and approaching the first obstacle. His powerful technique and superior speed gradually brought him back to the top of the field and all he had to do was shut down to cross the line in 7.74.
“It was a very slow race,” Robles explained. “I did not hear the starting gun. I felt relaxed and I am happy to make it to the semi-finals. The track is great. I love the venue. I am happy to be back to a major championship. I feel confident. We athletes share the same goal. I am always aiming at gold, as well as the others. This is a very competitive event. I will focus on the semis first and then the final.”
There was virtually nothing that separated the next four athletes behind Robles as second place Hector Cotto of Puerto Rico clocked 7.78 and fifth placer Maksim Dremin was timed at 7.80, fast enough to advance. Former European Indoor champion Gregory Sedoc was securely in fourth at 7.79.
A good recipe can never be complete if you don’t add in a good dose of spices and what a choice of spice we have here in Doha. US runner-up David Oliver, also returning from injury, is not only an outsider but a decent candidate for the podium. The broad American opened the first round with an imposing yet conservative win in the equal fastest time of the day at 7.60.
“My goal is a good performance here in Doha. Not a specific time, not a victory, just to perform well,” Oliver said. “I had a major injury last year - my calf was torn. It was really bad, so I started with the real hard training only in December. I started to appreciate things a lot more after what happened to me and I am just enjoying to be here and running. I like competing indoors as well as outdoors. This event is very strong this year - all stars are back. Robles, Liu, Terrence - all of them are very strong.”
Other fast winners today include Hungary’s Daniel Kiss whose 7.65 was good enough for second behind Oliver, Felipe Vivancio winner of heat 4 in 7.67 and Alexander John of Germany at 7.70. Don’t rule out Commonwealth champion Maurice Wignall and you have more than enough spices to make it hot.
Athletes now have a full day rest tomorrow before they return on the track Sunday for the main course.
Laura Arcoleo for the IAAF
