David Oliver (L) of the US leads Liu Xiang of China in the 110m hurdles at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League track meet in Eugene, Oregon on Saturday. (Reuters
Reuters/Eugene, Oregon
American hurdler David Oliver got his revenge and sprinters Steve Mullings and Carmelita Jeter delivered sparkling 100 metres times at a sold-out Prefontaine Classic meeting on Saturday.
Oliver evened the score with China’s Liu Xiang with an impressive run of 12.94 seconds in the 110 metres hurdles, one of eight season-leading performances at the Diamond League meeting.
Liu finished second in 13.00 seconds.
“I took care of business at the start like I didn’t do in Shanghai and got in a good rhythm,”  said the powerful Oliver, who lost to Liu in the Chinese city last month to end an 18-meeting win streak.
Liu expressed happiness with his time but disappointment with his finish.
“My foot is a little sore,” he said.
Mullings, a real threat to make the Jamaican world championship team with Usain Bolt, became the sixth-fastest 100 metres sprinter of all time with a run of 9.80 seconds.
Justin Gatlin, hoping for a strong race in his first major test since a four-year doping ban, finished sixth in 9.97 seconds.
Jeter was equally fast, roaring home in 10.70 seconds to match the sixth-fastest time ever, but behind her 2009 personal best of 10.64.
Jamaican Olympic and world champion Shelly-Ann Fraser was only fourth.
Surprisingly, Mullings said he was not in great shape.
“My body’s ripped up right now. I’m hurting bad,” said the 28-year-old, who has just returned from Europe.
“I expected to get in the 80s but I didn’t expect to go 9.8. It is a great feeling,” said Mullings, whose previous personal best was 9.89 seconds.
Victories eluded South Africans Caster Semenya and Oscar Pistorius.
World champion Semenya could never overtake Jamaican Kenia Sinclair, who ran a season-leading 1:58.29 in the women’s 800.  Semenya went 1:58.88.
“Under two minutes, that was the plan,” said Semenya. “So yeah, I did what I wanted.
Paralympian Pistorius struggled home last in the men’s 400 metres.
Olympic 400 metres hurdles gold medallist Angelo Taylor topped countryman Jeremy Wariner for the victory. Taylor ran 45.16 with 2004 Olympic champion Jeremy Wariner second in 45.43.
“It’s frustrating,” said a tired Pistorius. “The race wasn’t very comfortable. I think I picked up something.”
World 200 metres champion Allyson Felix, who has been contemplating a 200/400 double at the world championships, was soundly beaten in the 400.
Botswana’s Amantle Montsho took the race in 50.59 with Felix third at 51.41.