Grant Holloway Cruises Into Men's 110m Hurdles Finals

Favourite Holloway Approaches Olympic Record in Semifinals

AFP

Three-time world champion Grant Holloway of the United States cruised into the final of the men's 110m hurdles at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, coming close to the Olympic record in the semifinals.

Holloway, who is seeking his first Olympic gold medal, ran a time of 12.86 seconds in the fifth and final heat of the first round, wowing the crowd with his class and precision.

The 25-year-old American looked in complete control of the race, clearing the hurdles with ease and building a comfortable lead over his rivals. He crossed the line well ahead of the second-place finisher, Jamaica's Omar McLeod, who clocked a time of 13.12 seconds.

Holloway's time was just 0.01 seconds off the Olympic record of 12.85 seconds, set by China's Liu Xiang at the 2004 Athens Games.

The final of the men's 110m hurdles is scheduled for Thursday, and Holloway will be the heavy favourite to take the gold medal.