SHANGHAI hurdler Xie Wenjun needs major improvements if he wants to take over the mantle from Liu Xiang as China’s track and field icon. The 24-year-old could only manage a sixth-placed finish — clocking 13.36 seconds — in the men’s 110-meter hurdles at the 2015 Diamond League last night.

American hurdler David Oliver won the race in 13.17 seconds, the last discipline to be staged at Shanghai Stadium. Orlando Ortega of Cuba (13.19) won the silver, with the bronze medal going to Oliver’s compatriot Aries Merritt (13.25).

Despite knocking down three of the first five hurdles, Oliver had a strong start in the race, leading all the way to achieve a season’s-best time.