Olympic athletics: Merritt hurdles to 110m gold for US

London: Aries Merritt of the US took the Olympic gold medal in the men`s 110 metres hurdles Wednesday.

Merritt, the world No. 1, ran a new personal best of 12.92 to cruise to the title ahead of countryman and world champion Jason Richardson. Richardson clocked 13.04 for silver, with Hansle Parchment of Jamaica taking a surprise bronze in 13.12. The field was weakened after Dayron Robles, Cuba`s defending champion, pulled up at 50 metres, and China`s 2004 gold medalist Liu Xiang hobbled out in the heats with an achilles problem. IANS