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LetsRun.com's 2009 IAAF Berlin World Championships Preview Men's 110m Hurdles - The High Hurdles (aka Robles Rocks And Rolls) When: August 20 (finals), 19 (prelims, semis) Two years ago in Osaka, it was the Liu Xiang show. Last year in Beijing, it was the Dayron Robles show. Will an American steal the spotlight in 2009? Or will Robles reign for another year? Suffering an injury in the winter, Cuba's best athlete has taken some time getting back to full gear this season. He has racked up a number of wins, but something has been holding him back from his world record form from 2009. Could it be the terrible European weather this summer, or perhaps a dip in fitness for Mr. Robles? In any case, his rivals are set up to pull off what would be a very big upset by taking gold ahead of Robles. America's squad of David Payne, Terrence Trammell and Aries Merritt are the principal players in the upset drama. Americans David Oliver and Dexter Faulk would make fine additions to the field, but an injury has cost Oliver his shot in '09 and Faulk didn't run well enough at the US Trials to make it. Payne and Trammell are 13.02 and 12.95 guys at their best. That's Robles country, right there. In fact, 2 years ago at this meet, both Trammell and Payne beat Robles in the 110 hurdles final. This year the top Americans' bests are 13.12. Robles has a 13.04, a bunch of top-notch wins and, from last year, the 12.87 world record and OG gold. We'll see in a few days if he can get the World Championships crown for the first time. LRC Predictions: Men's 110m Hurdles Statistics By LRC Coaching Guru John Kellogg 13.04 Dayron Robles (CUB) PR 12.87 (WR) (2008) Gold medal in 2008 Olympic Games, bronze medal in 2006 World Cup, 4th in 2007 World Championships
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