Robles defends PanAm Games 110-hurdles title

Cuban world-record holder Dayron Robles, foiled in an August world title bid for hindering China's Liu Xiang, won his second Pan American Games 110-meter hurdles title in a row on Friday. Robles, who set the world record of 12.87 seconds in 2008 ahead of a gold-medal performance at the Beijing Olympics, captured the Pan Am crown in a Games-record time of 13.10 seconds. "I knew I was going to cross the finish line first and with just a little more effort I knew I could get the record," Robles said. "It wasn't that hard. I was able to run at about 90 or 92 percent and it was still enough to win." Colombia's Paulo Cesar Villar was second in 13.27 with Cuban Orlando Ortega third in 13.30. Robles also crossed the finish line first two months ago in the world final at Daegu, South Korea, but was disqualified for making contact with Liu several times over the last hurdles. After the Chinese protest was upheld, American Jason Richardson won the world title with Liu second and Britain's Andy Turner third. Robles' winning effort at Guadalajara, following up his 2007 PanAm title at Rio de Janeiro, broke the old PanAm Games 110 hurdles record of 13.17 seconds set by Cuban Anier Garcia in 1999 at Winnipeg, Canada. "I wanted to go even lower, but I wasn't fully confident because of an injury in my attack leg," Robles said. "I had a small muscle injury in my attack leg, but thanks to the doctors here I was able to race."