DAEGU, South Korea (AP) — Olympic champion Dayron Robles will have little room for error when he faces Liu Xiang and David Oliver in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, a race that is shaping up to be the most competitive of the athletics world championships.
The Cuban, who will be looking to add a world title to his gold medal from the Beijing Olympics, holds the world record in the event and he is expected to be running in Monday’s final in a race featuring the three fastest hurdlers in history.
Robles says “one mistake and you’re dead.”
Robles has looked strong in the buildup to the worlds, running 13.04 seconds to win at Crystal Palace on Aug. 5 with his best time this year. Oliver, the only man to go under 13 seconds this year, placed third in 13.19.