Liu hits hurdle in Beijing bid

Eugene (USA), June 10: Liu Xiang’s disqualification from the Prefontaine Classic after a one-two Chinese false start on Sunday underscores a disappointing US trip in the run-up to the Beijing Games.

The Olympic and world champion returns to his native China this week after a two-week trip to North America where he pulled out of one race and was disqualified from the other.

Liu was disqualified after posting the second false start in the 110 metre hurdles on Sunday in front of a crowd of about 13,500 at the University of Oregon track.

Starting from lane number four, Liu clearly rose out of the starting blocks first. Moments earlier Liu’s Chinese teammate Shi Dongpeng had also jumped the starter’s gun.

Shi was not disqualified because international track rules allow for one false start before the second offender is thrown out.

Shi finished last with a time of 13.50 seconds close to a half second behind winner Anwar Moore of the United States.

Liu, who is China’s best hope for athletics gold at the Beijing Olympics, travels with a large entourage of coaches, trainers and Chinese minders. He missed out on $5,000 in prize money given to first-place finishers in the Prefontaine Classic.

Following the race, Liu tried unsuccessfully to sneak away without speaking to reporters by leaving the track through a back gate. — AFP