Beijing Olympic Games

Updated: 2008-06-07

(BEIJING, June 7) — With the participation of China’s superstar hurdler Liu Xiang still uncertain, the spotlight at the Prefontaine Classic, being held in Eugene, Oregon, in the United States, may belong solely to American Allen Johnson, who at the age of 37 is hoping to qualify for his fourth Olympic team.

For Johnson the Prefontaine Classic is a necessary step in his bid for Olympic qualification. Johnson has been a perennial top performer in the hurdles since winning gold at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta and is a five time World Champion gold medalist (including one gold in the 4×400m relay). He will be competing against compatriots Anwar Moore, David Payne and Ryan Wilson in Sunday’s race.

Liu, the reigning Olympic and World champion in the 110m men’s hurdles, is nursing a sore hamstring that kept him out of the Reebok Grand Prix in New York last week. Though the Prefontaine Classic is considered one of the most important American track and field meets on the calendar, in an Olympic year, the risks might be too high for Liu, especially when the Olympics are being held in his home country of China.