ID :
203641
Fri, 08/26/2011 - 10:39
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https://oananews.org//node/203641
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Hurdles record holder Robles says world mark possible in Daegu
DAEGU, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- Dayron Robles, the world record holder in the men's 110-meter hurdles, said Friday he thinks his mark could be in danger at the upcoming World Championships in Athletics here.
"Everything is possible," Robles said at a press conference in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, where the 13th world championships will start Saturday.
The Cuban hurdler holds the current world standard at 12.87 seconds, set in June 2008. He also won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics later that year at 12.93.
But Robles failed to reach the final at the 2009 world championships in Berlin because of an injury. He said Friday the unpredictable nature of the event will leave the doors open for many athletes.
"There are too many good athletes from all over the world," he said. "You never know what happens in hurdles. But I am going to train hard every time because I have a dream of coming every day to break the world record."
Robles said his season has been "getting better and better" with every meet, and he posted his best time of the year in his last race earlier this month in London with 13.04.
"I am better than the last world championships," he said. "I expect a very good competition here."
With the men's 100節? missing big names such as Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, the 110節? hurdles next Monday may supplant it as the top sprint event here. The three fastest hurdlers in history could square off in the final.
Chinese Liu Xiang once held the world mark of 12.88. David Oliver of the U.S. boasts a personal best of 12.89 set last year.
The three, however, have never competed against each other in a final of any major event. Liu pulled out in Beijing when Robles won the gold, while both Robles and Liu were both injured for the worlds in Berlin, before Oliver started to emerge as the new threat.
Oliver has the best time this year at 12.94. Liu has run a 13-flat in 2011, also faster than Robles. But the Cuban said these marks only give him extra motivation.
"With three of the history's fastest men at the same time, the 110節? hurdles is very good now," Robles said. "Everybody comes to win and you need to stay prepared."
In a separate press conference Friday, Oliver said he is only focused on winning the title.
"I just want to make sure I go out there and win the gold medal; nobody remembers time," Oliver said. "There's a lot of capable people who can run under 13 seconds ... so it will probably be fast. There'll probably be three or four people at the finish diving at the tape for the gold."
Oliver said he will have to make sure he gets out of the blocks fast but that his finish isn't much of a problem. He also said he is not too worried about Robles or Liu.
"My main rival's the same as it has been since I started running hurdles at 17 years old," he said. "Those 10 barriers, 42 inches high and 10 yards apart. It's always been the same in every single race."
"Everything is possible," Robles said at a press conference in Daegu, 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, where the 13th world championships will start Saturday.
The Cuban hurdler holds the current world standard at 12.87 seconds, set in June 2008. He also won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics later that year at 12.93.
But Robles failed to reach the final at the 2009 world championships in Berlin because of an injury. He said Friday the unpredictable nature of the event will leave the doors open for many athletes.
"There are too many good athletes from all over the world," he said. "You never know what happens in hurdles. But I am going to train hard every time because I have a dream of coming every day to break the world record."
Robles said his season has been "getting better and better" with every meet, and he posted his best time of the year in his last race earlier this month in London with 13.04.
"I am better than the last world championships," he said. "I expect a very good competition here."
With the men's 100節? missing big names such as Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, the 110節? hurdles next Monday may supplant it as the top sprint event here. The three fastest hurdlers in history could square off in the final.
Chinese Liu Xiang once held the world mark of 12.88. David Oliver of the U.S. boasts a personal best of 12.89 set last year.
The three, however, have never competed against each other in a final of any major event. Liu pulled out in Beijing when Robles won the gold, while both Robles and Liu were both injured for the worlds in Berlin, before Oliver started to emerge as the new threat.
Oliver has the best time this year at 12.94. Liu has run a 13-flat in 2011, also faster than Robles. But the Cuban said these marks only give him extra motivation.
"With three of the history's fastest men at the same time, the 110節? hurdles is very good now," Robles said. "Everybody comes to win and you need to stay prepared."
In a separate press conference Friday, Oliver said he is only focused on winning the title.
"I just want to make sure I go out there and win the gold medal; nobody remembers time," Oliver said. "There's a lot of capable people who can run under 13 seconds ... so it will probably be fast. There'll probably be three or four people at the finish diving at the tape for the gold."
Oliver said he will have to make sure he gets out of the blocks fast but that his finish isn't much of a problem. He also said he is not too worried about Robles or Liu.
"My main rival's the same as it has been since I started running hurdles at 17 years old," he said. "Those 10 barriers, 42 inches high and 10 yards apart. It's always been the same in every single race."
