Liu gets ready for new start tonight
By Ni Yinbin |
May 15, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINESE hurdler Liu Xiang will try out his new starting technique when he lines up against the 110-meter field that includes American David Oliver at the Shanghai Diamond League meet tonight.
The former world record keeper said he will use seven strides instead of the normal eight to reach the first hurdle to improve his start in the marquee event of the 2011 Dunlop Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.
Tonight's race will be Liu's first outdoor performance this year and the home favorite was not sure he was in a good shape.
"I think I'll try my best to catch up with David so that my result won't be bad," a modest Liu said at a press conference yesterday. "My current shape should be better than at the Asian Games."
Liu said he had not quite mastered the new technique yet as he had only spent less than three months on it.
"It's just a new technique and seven strides aren't necessarily faster than eight," Liu explained. "I have to take the first step with my right foot instead of the left, which I am used to. I have to be careful with my body movement and I need more powerful strides."
The aim of the new attempt was to improve his speed from the launch to the fifth hurdle although Liu turns 28 this year and is not at the start of his career.
"Techniques keep changing. Seven strides is not new and I'd like to try out new things and challenge myself," the Shanghai native said with his typical casual smile. Liu also mentioned that Oliver and Dayron Robles, the world record holder from Cuba, had both changed to seven strides from eight in recent years. "I may have been late in realizing this but it's still possible for me to catch up."
Oliver, sitting alongside Liu, however, remained cautious about competing against Liu tonight.
The American, who won his second outdoor title this year in Daegu, South Korea, on Thursday, said, "I think I have to run much better than I did in Daegu so I can equal my performance possibly (with Liu)."
Oliver claimed that Liu is capable of finishing the 110-meter race in around 13 seconds.
The former world record keeper said he will use seven strides instead of the normal eight to reach the first hurdle to improve his start in the marquee event of the 2011 Dunlop Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.
Tonight's race will be Liu's first outdoor performance this year and the home favorite was not sure he was in a good shape.
"I think I'll try my best to catch up with David so that my result won't be bad," a modest Liu said at a press conference yesterday. "My current shape should be better than at the Asian Games."
Liu said he had not quite mastered the new technique yet as he had only spent less than three months on it.
"It's just a new technique and seven strides aren't necessarily faster than eight," Liu explained. "I have to take the first step with my right foot instead of the left, which I am used to. I have to be careful with my body movement and I need more powerful strides."
The aim of the new attempt was to improve his speed from the launch to the fifth hurdle although Liu turns 28 this year and is not at the start of his career.
"Techniques keep changing. Seven strides is not new and I'd like to try out new things and challenge myself," the Shanghai native said with his typical casual smile. Liu also mentioned that Oliver and Dayron Robles, the world record holder from Cuba, had both changed to seven strides from eight in recent years. "I may have been late in realizing this but it's still possible for me to catch up."
Oliver, sitting alongside Liu, however, remained cautious about competing against Liu tonight.
The American, who won his second outdoor title this year in Daegu, South Korea, on Thursday, said, "I think I have to run much better than I did in Daegu so I can equal my performance possibly (with Liu)."
Oliver claimed that Liu is capable of finishing the 110-meter race in around 13 seconds.
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