THE contrast between American and Jamaican sprinting was demonstrated again in the 4x100m relays, where the US team dropped the baton in both the men’s and women’s races.

JAMAICA’S Melaine Walker continued her nation’s stunning Olympics, winning gold in the 400m hurdles in a new Olympic record of 52.64s.

Host nation hero Liu Xiang’s dreams of Olympic glory ended when he was forced to pull out of his 110m hurdles heat.

CHINESE President Hu Jintao presided over the re-lighting of the Olympic torch yesterday in the host city, signalling the start of an around-the-world torch relay that already has become a magnet for protesters.

Beijing tightened security today ahead of the Olympic torch’s arrival after demonstrations by protesters during its passage through Greece.

Kenya-born Bernard Lagat won a fifth World Championship gold medal for Team USA in Osaka and then proclaimed: “I feel very special.”

For a man who boasts a billion followers, Ding Junhui is at pains to play down his fame as prepares for the biggest snooker match of his life.

DERVAL O’ROURKE broke her national 100m hurdles record with a 12.92 secs run for fourth place at last night’s Grand Prix meeting in Lausanne with a promise of better to come at Friday night’s Golden Gala meeting in Rome.

JEREMY WARINER of the United States won the men’s 400 metres title at the world athletics championships in Helsinki last night.

Liu Xiang of China equalled Colin Jackson’s 11-year-old world record by clocking 12.91 seconds to power to Olympic gold in the 110metres hurdles.

IRISH 110 metres record-holder Peter Coghlan finished third in last night’s IAAF Super Grand Prix meeting in Lausanne.