Chinese tears for Liu, Wariner and Bolt cruise through (Roundup)

Beijing - China icon Liu Xiang limped out of the Beijing Olympics with an Achilles tendon injury on Monday relegating prominent joggers Usain Bolt and Jeremy Wariner to secondary news. The world and Olympic champion Xiang took two strides out of the starting blocks, limped to the first hurdle, turned around and walked off the track in front of a stunned 91,000-strong crowd. China's athletics team coach Feng Shouyong told a news conference that the injury in his right leg appeared again on Saturday and that Liu was in massive pain on Monday ahead of the race. The withdrawal sent shockwaves through the stadium with spectators and volunteers crying and Liu's personal coach Sun Haiping also in tears during the news conference broadcast live across the country. 'We saw the pain. But Liu was determined to run. Liu would not withdraw unless the pain was intolerable or there was no way out,' said Feng. Feng said that the problem was eased Saturday but returned again on Monday morning. 'We didn't realize it was so serious. We couldn't tell the people because no one knew he couldn't compete today,' he said. Liu is China's biggest star in the Olympic team after winning the hurdles gold in 2004. He held the world record, won the 2007 world title and was to give China gold on Thursday in the final. 'As far as I know everyone expected him to do well ... His psychological quality is great, he can withstand pressure like nobody else,' said Feng. Liu was the most prominent casualty but there was also bad news for the US as Terrence Trammell, the 2000 and 2004 Olympic silver-medallist and two-time world championship runner-up, limped off the track after injuring himself early in his heat. Cuban world record holder Dayron Robles won his heat in 13.39 seconds while American David Oliver led all qualifiers into the second round with 13.30 seconds. Earlier, the world and Olympic champion Wariner beat the freshly crowned 100m gold medallist Bolt for the Jogger of The Day award as they strolled into the next round of the 400 metres and 200 metres races, respectively. Wariner was given the uncomfortable lane nine but did not have to run hard beyond the 350m mark, shutting down early as he checked for rivals and absorbed the scenery with a run of 45.23 seconds. 'I felt comfortable and easy,' said Wariner. Compatriot LaShawn Merritt, who has beaten Wariner twice this season, clocked 44.96 in his Olympic debut while Christopher Brown of the Bahamas led the way into the semis with 44.79 seconds. 'I ran a smart and easy race. I am ready. I finally got to experience the Games,' said Merritt. 'It will take guts, heart and power to medal.' Bolt had plenty of power as he reached a new 100m dimension with a jaw-dropping world record run of 9.69 seconds on Saturday in which he eased up with some 20m to go. The 200m are his preferred distance and again he was able to take things easy in the morning heats, shutting down after 150m en route to the next round in 20.64 seconds. But unlike Wariner, he didn't win his heat as Trinidad's Rondell Sorillo beat him by 0.06 seconds. Whatever he does in the next rounds, Sorillo could be bragging after the Olympics that he was the only man in Beijing to beat Bolt. Bolt is yet to run hard over a full race in Beijing. In other qualifying, Briton Phillips Idowu required just one massive leap of 17.44m to make the men's triple jump final and world champion Betty Heidler of Germany was among the qualifiers for the women's hammer throw final with 71.51m. The medal events in Monday's evening session are the women's 800m, discus and pole vault, as well as the men's 400m hurdles, 3,000m steeplechase and long jump.