Athletics-Liu's hamstring better but uncertain on Oregon race

By Gene Cherry

EUGENE, Oregon, June 7 (Reuters) - Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion and world record holder Liu Xiang says his sore hamstring is improving but he will not know until the last minute whether he will run in Sunday's Prefontaine Classic.

"I am feeling much better," the Chinese athlete said through a translator on Saturday. "After I go to the track (on Sunday) to do the final training, we'll see what happens.

"If I feel well, I will run," Liu told Feng Shuyong, the vice-president of the Chinese athletics federation and national team coach.

"If I don't feel well, I may pull out," said Liu, who is China's main hope for an athletics gold medal at August's Beijing Games. "For sure, I will not take the risk."

The possibility that Liu could injure himself more seriously will be a major factor.

"It is a very big consideration," said Feng, who will join Liu and his coach Sun Haiping in making the decision. "My basic principle is that we will not take a risk."

Whether Liu runs or not, he will add one or two more meetings to his schedule before the Games.

Both will take place in Beijing and likely at the national training center, one probably before July 10 and the other before the end of July.

The Prefontaine Classic had been going to be his last race before the Olympics.

Liu had also been scheduled to run in New York's Reebok Grand Prix last weekend but pulled out due to his injury.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)