China's Olympic champion Liu Xiang beat four-times world champion Allen Johnson of the United States in a dramatic men's 110 meters hurdles on Saturday night at the Shanghai Athletics Grand Prix.

 

 

Other Olympic champions Justin Gatlin of the United States, Yelena Isinbayeva of Russia and Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia sailed to victories easily in front of more than 40,000 yelling fans.

 

Liu, who keeps the world record of 12.91 in the men's 110m hurdles, caught up Johnson in the final stage with a winning time of 13.05 seconds. Johnson clocked 13.20 for the silver.

 

Arnold Dominique of the United States, who ranked third in the world this season, was disqualified of the race due to a false start.

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"I felt very good. It is my second best result," Liu said at the press conference. "I was not effected by the three false starts."

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Gatlin, 22, beat a world class field to win the 100m gold in 10.01 seconds, ahead of his teammate Leonard Scott and Francis Obikwelu of Portugal. Scott clocked 10.09 and Obikweilu was timed 10.11.

 

"I am satisfied with the race, especially the track and the local fans," said Gatlin, who came to China for the first time. "Shanghai gives me a very good impression. I will come here again next year."

 

Bekele, the world champion in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m, claimed the gold in 7:36.36 in the 3,000 meters, ahead of his brother Tariku Bekele and Boniface Songok of Kenya.

 

Isinbayeva, who has set the women's pole vault world record for18 times, failed to beat her own world record tonight but won the gold medal easily. She tried three times to clear the 5.02 meters, one centimeter higher than the record she set last August at the world championships.

 

"I tried hard to beat the record. The fans are very good and gave me a lot of support. I will do it next time," said the Russian winner.

 

In the other finals, world champion Allyson Felix of the United States won the women's 200 meters with a time of 23.09, ahead of Christine Amertil of Bahamas, 23.26, and Donna Fraser of Britain, 23.31.

 

Chandra Sturrup of Bahamas beat world champion Lauryn Williams of the United States in the women's 100 meters to win the race in 11.02 seconds. Williams clocked 11.05.

 

Tonique Williams-Darling, Olympic champion and world No.1 of Bahamas, beat a strong field to win the women's 400 meters in 50.25 seconds.

 

Nadezhda Opstapchuk of Belarus, world No.1 this year and world silver medalist in 2003, landed 19.76 meters for the women's shot put title. Valerie Vili of New Zealand won the silver at 19.47m and China's Li Meisu won the bronze at 18.77m.

 

Wifred Bungei of Kenya won the men's 800 meters in 1:45.35 and Hasna Benhassi of Morocco took the gold in the women's 800 meters in 1:58.58.

 

A total of 18 world and Olympic champions took part in the competition which featured 14 events.

 

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2005)