Liu Xiang of China competes to win the men's 110m hurdles at the IAAF Super Grand Prix athletics meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, July 10, 2007. Liu Xiang won the victory of 110m hurdles here in 13.01 seconds, the season's third-best time.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    By Sportswriter Zhang Rongfeng

    LAUSANNE, Switzerland, July 11 (Xinhua) -- World record holder Liu Xiang won the 110m hurdles for the third time in a row at the Lausanne Grand Prix, running the season's third-best time despite the cold on Tuesday.

    Liu, who broke the 110m hurdles record last year on the Pontaisetrack, won in 13.01 seconds. Anwar Moore of the United States finished second in 13.12 and Aries Merritt was third clocking 13.18.

    At race time, the temperature was 11 degrees Celsius (52 Fahrenheit).

    Last year, Liu ran 12.88 to reset the world record he previously shared with Colin Jackson of Britain.

    "I feel excellent to come back to Lausanne even if the weather wasn't good," Liu said. "In Paris, I wasn't really fit but I felt better here."

    Liu was beaten by Dayron Robles in Paris on Friday, but the Chinese hurdler was not bestowed the opportunity to take revenge for the Cuban's pull-out from Tuesday's race.

    Liu ran head-on-head with veteran Allen Johnson in the first few hurdles and sprinted strongly into lead over the last three hurdles.

    "I am running fast and I have the mark of 12.88, but the mark is also a tough barrier to mount for myself. It's extremely formidable to challenge the high-point, which is not something coming with expectation. I feel the high expectation from fans, but tell the truth it's not easy for me to maintain the status in quo. Everybody should be happy with what I have done," said Liu.

    "It's my lucky track, so I am relaxed here. It's a little chilly today, but I raced well and got a contented result," added Liu. "The Paris GP is the first race in my European tour, where I felt a little tired and was not quite in form, but the time of 13.15 is acceptable. In Laussane, I am getting better and fine-tuning to shape."

    Liu's coach Sun Haiping gave credit to good start for Liu's victory. "Liu Xiang's start-off is 0.03-0.04 seconds slower than his opponents in the past, so we have more practice on that. But it needs some races for Liu to adapt the new skill. In Paris, Liu started well, but the follow-up rhythm failed to catch up," commented Sun, adding that Liu speeded up from the third hurdle and kept a good pace and rhythm here.

    Liu, the Olympic and world champion, ran 12.92, the fastest time this year in New York in June.

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