Liu Xiang on his way to 12.92 win in New York (© Victah Sailer)
Those who enjoy the prediction game generally stumble when looking to the hurdles contests. After all, those barriers are called hurdles for a reason. The races at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan (25 Aug to 2 Sep) will feature all four defending champions, and a slew of formidable challengers to the throne.
MEN
Liu Xiang, China’s most famous athlete, is the 110m Hurdles World record holder, reigning Olympic champion, winner of five of six races this season, and the world leader at 12.92. But after two tries – bronze in 2003, silver in 2005 – he’s still in search of his first World title and presumably quite hungry. So is U.S. champion Terrence Trammell (12.95 PB in June), twice Olympic silver medallist who is also seeking his first global crown. Cuban record holder Dayron Robles (13.11 SB) certainly looms as a factor. Defending champion Ladji Doucouré of France only has a pair of sub-13.30 performances to his credit this season, but is reportedly ready for a solid defence.
The 400m Hurdles have been dominated by Americans this summer who currently occupy positions 1-5 on the world list. Can U.S. champion James Carter (47.72), after a slew of bridesmaid performances, take his first major title? Bershawn Jackson (48.13 SB) is the defending champion and is expected to be a fierce competitor, while South African LJ van Zyl, the African champion surprised them all with his 48.24 victory at Rome’s Golden Gala last month.
WOMEN
Reigning World champion Michelle Perry has been the dominant force in the 100m Hurdles this summer; her 12.44 World leader in Rome kept her alive in the IAAF Golden League Jackpot chase. But most recently, she was clearly beaten by European champion Susanna Kallur in Stockholm. The Swede however will have to be in career best (12.52) form to threaten for a podium spot in Osaka. US champion Ginnie Powell ran a PB 12.45 in early June, but hasn’t run since her tumble in Rome.
As with the men’s 400m Hurdles, Americans – Tiffany Williams (53.28) and Sheena Johnson (53.29) - lead the women’s event world list, but the momentum appears elsewhere. Russia’s defending champion Yuliya Pechonkina (53.61), also the World record holder, produced a pair of solid performances at home in recent weeks, while Australia’s Jana Rawlinson, the 2003 champion, has come back nicely from maternity leave, winning her last three races, including a season’s best 53.46 in Monaco.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
