Guadalajara, Mexico: Dayron Robles was too far ahead of his rivals to get into any trouble this time, winning his second straight Pan American Games gold medal in the 110-metre hurdles on Friday.
The Cuban world-record holder, who set a Pan American Games record by winning in 13.10 seconds, also finished first in the race at the World Championships in August but was stripped of his title for obstructing Chinese runner Liu Xiang.
There was no dispute this time.
"I knew I was going to cross the finish line first, and with just a little more effort I knew I could get the record. It wasn't that hard," said Robles, who also won the gold four years ago in Rio de Janeiro.
"I was able to run at about 90 or 92 per cent and it was still enough to win."
The previous Pan American Games record of 13.17 was set by Anier Garcia of Cuba in 1999 in Winnipeg.
Robles holds the world record of 12.87, which he ran a couple of months before winning the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.
"I wanted to go even lower, but I wasn't fully confident because of an injury in my attack leg," Robles said.
"I had a small muscle injury in my attack leg, but thanks to the doctors here I was able to race."
Protest
At the Worlds in South Korea, Robles finished first but lost his medal after the Chinese protested that the Cuban impeded Liu by making contact with him several times over the last few hurdles.
Jason Richardson of the United States ended up with the gold medal, while Liu earned silver and Andy Turner of Britain got bronze.
Robles started off another strong day for Cuba on the track.
A day after winning five golds, Cubans athletes added two more early titles to move into second place in the medals table behind the United States.
The Americans lead with 82 gold and 208 overall, while Cuba has 42 gold and 108 overall.
Brazil dropped into third place with 40 gold and 119 overall.
Besides Robles, Yarelis Barrios won the women's discus and Andy Gonzalez won the men's 800.
Kayak, canoe
In early events, Jorge Garcia won the men's K1 1,000-metre kayak event, and Karel Aguilar and Serguey Torres teamed up to win the men's C2 1,000-metre canoe race.
In team sports, women's world field hockey champions Argentina will face the United States in the final. The Americans are also in the women's water polo final, where they will face Canada.
Also, Canadian wakeboard silver medallist Aaron Rathy became the first athlete to test positive for doping during competition at the games.
Rathy tested positive for the stimulant methylhexaneamine and his medal has been withdrawn, according to games officials.
"Aaron and Water Ski and Wakeboard Canada have cooperated fully with the investigation and will accept the findings of the Pan American Sport Organisation Disciplinary Committee," Canadian officials said in a statement.
US upset Argentina
The United States upset world powers Argentina 4-2 on Friday in the women's field hockey final at the Pan American Games to secure an automatic berth in next year's London Olympics.
In one of the biggest wins in the history of the United States team, Paige Selenski scored in the 12th minute and Shannon Taylor added another in the 15th. Maria Barrionuevo scored on a penalty corner in the 18th for Argentina, before Katie O'Donnell made it 3-1 on a penalty in the 35th.
Barrionuevo scored her second on a penalty in the 42nd before Michelle Vittese secured the win with a goal in the 66th.
Argentina will now have to go to an Olympic qualifying tournament prior to the London Games.
