EUGENE, OR - Making his first-ever appearance in the United States, China's Olympic Champion and co-world recordholder Liu Xiang, will compete in the 110-meter high hurdles in the Prefontaine Classic Grand Prix on June 4th. Last summer, at the age of just 21, Xiang recorded the biggest surprise of the Athens Olympic Games when he not only won the gold medal, but equaled the 12.91 world record set by Britain's Colin Jackson in 1993.

Making Xiang's appearance even more meaningful is the world-class field he will race against, led by former Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion Allen Johnson. Johnson, now 34, has been the dominant force in the hurdles since his first World Championships gold, back in 1995. He will be out for some redemption at the Pre Classic, after a fall in the quarter-finals at Athens kept him from a match-up with Xiang in the final.

Neither Xiang nor Johnson can afford a stumble with a field that includes former Olympic and World Championships silver medalist Terrance Trammell; former World Championships bronze medalist Duane Ross; and two-time NCAA Champion Ron Bramlett.

110 HURDLES (MEN)

Liu Xiang (China)
Allen Johnson
Terrence Trammell
Duane Ross
Ron Bramlett
Arend Watkins
Anwar Moore
Dominque Arnold