Very impressive race, and I hope the guy wins in 2012..what a comeback it would be. The just guy exploded towards the end of the race, and almost caught with Terrence. youtube.com/watch?v=txN0btZlImc <---- watch video Liu returns with bang to delight home crowd ATHLETICS Agencies in Shanghai Sep 21, 2009 Email to friend | Print a copy http://www.scmp.com/files/SCMP/Sport/Static%20Files/SCM_News_China_Shanghai_Golden_Grand_Prixx.jpg Hurdles hero Liu Xiang thrilled a hometown crowd last night with a photo finish in his much-anticipated comeback after his Olympic withdrawal, vowing he would soon bring glory home to China again. The stadium erupted as Liu and American Terrence Trammell, the world number two, both registered a 110m hurdles time of 13.15 seconds. Trammell was placed first. Liu, 26, exploded out of the starting blocks at the Grand Prix, racing for the first time since he limped out of the Bird's Nest Stadium last year. "His result is beyond our expectations," Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, said. "He was inspired by the crowd." The 2004 Olympic gold medallist vowed before the race that he would soon be "ready to bring home the glory for China once again". "Being back on the track today is a pivotal step for me. I didn't expect I could run so fast ... but once I stepped on the track I could not hold back," said Liu, who thumped his chest and collapsed on the track after the finish. "I felt like I had been infused by an enthusiastic spirit." "I'm confident and optimistic that I will soon make a full recovery and be ready to win again. I need to be patient and not expect too much, too quickly." Liu had an operation in the United States in December to repair his Achilles tendon and has been training in secret in Shanghai. Meanwhile, Carmelita Jeter ran the second fastest women's 100m in history at 10.64 seconds as Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva tried unsuccessfully to top her own record. She won the woman's pole vault but failed on a third attempt to clear 5.07m. She cleared 4.85m ahead of Poland's Anna Rogowska at 4.60m. With her 100m time, Jeter - the bronze medallist at the world championships in Berlin last month - became the second fastest woman in history. Only compatriot, the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, who set the world record of 10.49 seconds, has run faster. American Tyson Gay beat Jamaican former world record holder Asafa Powell in the 100m with 9.69 seconds, equalling the second fastest time ever for the distance. Next year Shanghai will be included in the 14-meet "Diamond League", which replaces the current schedule of six Golden League meets and other Grand Prix meetings.
