Cuban beats Liu's 110 meters hurdles world record

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Cuba's Robles keels by the timing board showing his new world record of 12.87 seconds in the 110-meter hurdle (Photo credit: Xinhua)

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(BEIJING, June 13) -- Dayron Robles of Cuba broke the men's world 110 meters hurdles record at the Golden Spike Grand Prix race in Ostrava, the Czech Republic on June 12. His time of 12.87 seconds reduced the previous record held by China's Liu Xiang by 0.01 seconds. Robles previous best time for this distance was 12.92, which he achieved last year in Europe.

Robles' new record and the obvious good form he is in at the moment, will put pressure on Liu, who is a hot favorite to win this event on his home territory at the Beijing Olympic Games in August. Liu, who is presently suffering from a hamstring injury, had set his record of 12.88 seconds in Lausanne, Switzerland, in July 2007.

The long-striding Robles, 21, who has had a very successful 2008 indoor season, winning seven of the eight 60 meters sprint races, had a good start and established a commanding lead by the fourth hurdle.

After the race -- only his third of the season at the distance -- a happy Robles said: "It was such a good time. I did not expect that!". Thanking the crowd in the stadium -- "Thanks, Ostrava," he shouted -- the young Cuban added that, despite his excellent time, he did not know whether he could beat the China's mighty Liu at the Olympics. The two hurdlers have raced against each other on many occasions.