Robles looks to lower record at worlds next month

GUADALAJARA, Spain — Olympic hurdles champion Dayron Robles believes he can lower his world record time at next month's world championships in Berlin. The 22-year-old Cuban told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he has recovered from a hamstring injury and expects to bounce back from his poor recent form at the Aug. 15-23 worlds. “All of this depends on the work you do and it depends on how things turn out," said Robles, who holds the 110-meter hurdles record of 12.87 seconds. “Nothing's impossible." Robles will travel to Germany as the heavy favorite. Liu Xiang of China is unlikely to compete due to a foot injury. Robles has taken Liu's Olympic title and world record time and, now, he can also snatch the Chinese hurdler's world championship title. “My legs are feeling pretty good," Robles said. “After this time spent on the sidelines, which wasn't any good to us and the injury, we're moving forward with our plan." But Robles doesn't see himself as the favorite even though he's won all four events he's competed in since returning after injuring his left hamstring in February. “I never go as favorite. I tell you that every one of us that is in the final, in the last race, we're all favorites because in the 110 you never know what can happen," said Robles, who finished fourth at the worlds in Japan two years ago and finished seventh last year at the world indoors in Valencia. Robles has focused his training in Guadalajara, a town nearly an hour outside of the Spanish capital. At the invitation of the mayor, the Cuban track team has spent several years honing its training at the Fuente de la Nina sport center with an eye on the European season. Robles said that the team's preparations have gone to plan, except for several bouts of illness. But that wasn't an excuse. “I'm not obliged to win (the worlds)," Robles said. “(But) you always have to go out looking for victory, always." – AP