Track and field: Hurdler Liu sets world record; Arnold 2nd
By The Associated Press
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Liu Xiang of China set a world record in the 110-meter hurdles Tuesday, surpassing the mark he shared with Britain's Colin Jackson.
Liu's time of 12.88 seconds at the Athletissima Grand Prix meet was .03 seconds better than the record he matched in winning gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. Jackson ran 12.91 in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1993.
Dominique Arnold, a former Washington State standout, was second in 12.90, also faster than the previous world mark.
Arnold, 27, surpassed the American record of 12.92 shared by Roger Kingdom (1989) and Allen Johnson (twice in 1996).
Liu, 22, who covered his face with a Chinese flag after the race, said through a translator, "I can't believe it. I can't express it. I had a good start, and after the first five hurdles it was a perfect race. I wanted to break the record last year, but it wasn't working. I think I can still run even faster."
American Xavier Carter won the 200 in 19.63 — the second-fastest clocking of all time. American Michael Johnson won the gold medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics in 19.32.
Carter, competing for Louisiana State, won a record four titles (two in relays) at this year's NCAA outdoor championships.
Marion Jones, who earned five medals at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, took the women's 100 in 10.94. It was the American's sixth win in eight meets this season.
Notes
• A U.S. relay team was denied a world indoor record because the runners weren't tested after the race for the banned substance EPO. The U.S. squad — Kerron Clement, Wallace Spearmon, Darold Williamson and Jeremy Wariner — had a time of 3 minutes, 1.96 seconds in the 1,600-meter relay at the Feb. 11 Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
Officials responsible for collecting samples for drug testing at the meet failed to request an EPO test from the laboratory, making the result ineligible as an official record, the IAAF ruled.
• Britain's Paula Radcliffe, who holds the women's world record in the marathon, is expecting her first child Jan. 6. The 32-year-old will be out of competition until next summer.
