Published: August 19, 2008 10:59 pm      

With Liu out of the way, Oliver contends for gold

BEIJING — With two top medal contenders out, American David Oliver ran a strong quarterfinal heat Tuesday night to advance along with world record-holder Dayron Robles of Cuba in the 110-meter hurdles.

Oliver finished in 13.60 seconds to win his heat by 0.23 second.

The U.S. Olympic trials champion, Oliver came into the games widely considered in the medal mix. His chances for gold increased when China’s Liu Xiang withdrew in the first round with a foot injury and America’s two-time Olympic silver medalist, Terrence Trammell, pulled out because of a hamstring strain.

The 110-hurdles final Thursday night was supposed to be one of the highlight events of these Olympics, with Liu — one of China’s biggest celebrities — trying to defend his Olympic title in the 91,000-seat Bird’s Nest.

Instead, it is setting up as a chance for Robles to improve the record time of 12.87 seconds he ran in June and Oliver, whose personal best is 12.95, trying to pull an upset.

Robles easily won his quarterfinal in 13.19 seconds.

American David Payne also advanced and said that with Liu gone, the race is open.

“That’s a medal for anybody that steps up,” Payne said.

There were no surprises in the second round of women’s 200 heats. Americans Allyson Felix, Muna Lee and Marshevet Hooker all made it through, as did the Jamaican trio of Veronica Campbell-Brown, Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart.

In the 100, the Jamaicans swept and the Americans finished 4-5-8. The two countries could again earn six of the eight spots in Thursday night’s 200 final.

“It fueled my fire,” Lee said of Jamaica’s dominance. “I’ll just think about that in the final.”

In women’s 5,000-meter semis, American Shalane Flanagan kept her hopes alive for two Olympic medals.

Flanagan overcame stomach troubles to win bronze in the 10,000 and said she’s still celebrating that success.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “It’s kind of like I’d imagine if you have a newborn child. You’re fascinated with it. You’re like, ‘Wow, that really is mine? That’s mine?”’