Liu ready to run at Kobe Asia meeting
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Shanghai Daily, June 22, 2011
China's former Olympic 110-meter hurdles champion Liu Xiang will run at next month's Asian championships in Kobe, Japanese organizers said yesterday.
Liu is still searching for the form that won him gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics after the Achilles injury that wrecked his Beijing hopes in 2008.
He snapped rival David Oliver's 18-meet winning streak in his hometown of Shanghai last month but the tables were turned when the American beat Liu in Eugene, Oregon, on June 4.
Liu is set to skip European meetings ahead of this year's world championships in Daegu, South Korea, in August because of recurring foot pain.
His decision is part of a cautious build-up to next year's London Olympics for the former world record holder, mindful of his Achilles surgery in 2008.
Liu will headline athletes from 40 countries taking part in the July 7-10 Asian championships in the southwest port city of Kobe.
200/400 double
Meanwhile, three-time 200-meter world champion Allyson Felix will run the 400 meters at this weekend's United States championships and her performance will help determine whether she attempts a 200/400 double at Daegu, her manager said on Monday.
"This is the next step toward deciding if she is going to do the double," Wes Felix said by telephone. "It doesn't mean she will do it for sure ... but she would have to make the US team in the 400 to be able to double."
Felix has a bye for the 200 at the worlds as the defending champion but would need to finish among the top three in the 400 at the US nationals to gain a spot on the American world team.
Her coach, Bob Kersee, said last month he was leaning toward Felix just running the 200 at the worlds. But Wes Felix said Kersee eventually left the decision to the athlete. "She feels confident to be able to run at 400 meters, but running rounds (in the event) are a whole new thing for her."
Felix has the fastest 400 time in the world this season at 49.81 seconds, but the race will not be an easy one as 2009 world outdoor champion Sanya Richards-Ross and 2010 world indoor gold medalist Debbie Dunn will be in the race.
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