ATHLETICS: Merritt leads US one-two in 110m hurdles

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Aries Merritt crosses the line first to claim gold in the men’s 110m Hurdles final on Day 12 at London 2012.–Photo by london2012.com

LONDON: Aries Merritt led a US one-two in the men’s Olympic 110m hurdles on Wednesday as Cuba’s defending champion Dayron Robles pulled up injured halfway through the race.

Merritt, the fastest hurdler in the world this season, ran a personal best of 12.92sec, the second fastest time in Olympic history.

“I am so excited, words can’t explain how excited I am right now,” Merritt said.

“The gold medal means everything,” he said. “The US haven’t had a gold medal (in the 110m hurdles) since Allen Johnson in 1996. It’s phenomenal. To be here in this atmosphere is really special.”

Merritt’s time beat the 12.93sec that the American has run three times this year and the 12.94sec he timed in the semis as he dominated the season.

The world record of 12.87sec had looked under threat, but a slight breeze into the hurdlers’ faces may have denied him.

“People were talking about a world record, but 12.92 into a headwind is still pretty impressive. I am happy with that,” he said.

“I trained for this intensity. I thought if I treat it like a practice then I could do ridiculous things.”

Merritt’s US teammate Jason Richardson, the shock world champion from last year in Daegu, claimed silver in 13.04sec.

Jamaican Hansle Parchment took a surprise bronze in a new national record of 13.12sec, the first ever medal winner from his country in the 110m hurdles.

“In my head I was debating whether to fall down and cry but I kept my composure,” said Richardson.

“I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to but that’s fine. It leaves me with a little bit of hunger and I’m only 26.”

Defending champion Robles, the world record holder, failed to finish the explosive race after clipping a hurdle that left him clutching his leg in anguish.

“I felt comfortable in the semis but I have been bothered by problems throughout the season,” said Robles.

“Then this happened. I think it’s a hamstring. That is athletics: one moment you are on top and then you suffer the other side.”

The final was already marked by the absence of China’s 2004 Olympic champion Liu Xiang, who crashed out in the first round on Tuesday.

Liu was expected to go under the knife in London on Wednesday to repair the serious Achilles tendon tear that put him out of the Games.

The Chinese hurdler, whose heartbreaking injury exit for the second consecutive Games drew millions of messages of support, will return home soon after the operation, Chinese Olympic committee spokesman Zhang Haifeng told AFP.

“Both Chinese and local doctors examined him yesterday. He’s almost broken his right tendon.”

Liu clattered into the first hurdle in his heat on Tuesday and fell heavily. After being helped to his feet, he bravely hopped the length of the track and symbolically kissed the last hurdle.–AFP