Chinese athlete Zhang Guowei competes in the men's high jump event at the World Challenge Beijing at the Bird's Nest in Beijing on Wednesday. He captured the gold with a jump of 2.34 meters, one centimeter short of his personal best. Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Photo: Cui Meng/GT

 

Chinese athletes said they need to do more to be more competitive in world athletics, after being outperformed in Wednesday night's World Challenge Beijing at the Bird's Nest.

The competition at the Bird's Nest, which will be the main venue for the World Championships in August, only saw high jumper Zhang Guowei give home fans something to cheer about.

Beijing native Zhang Peimeng, who finished fifth in men's 100-meter dash, said he is yet to find his stride.

"I'm not as fast as before, maybe because of my age," the 28-year-old Zhang Peimeng said.

"I need to make a breakthrough."

He admitted it's meaningless to run at the World Championships if he can't solve his problem in the next few months.

Xie Wenjun, who carries Chinese hopes of being the next Liu Xiang, placed fourth in the men's 110-meter hurdles in 13.47 seconds.

He's already eyeing more competitions to improve his time.

"My next race should be the Eugene Diamond League, then the Asian Championships," he told the Global Times ­after the race.

The Asian Athletics Championships is set to take place in Wuhan in Central China's Hubei Province in June.

"After that I will focus on individual training ... pace training is my first ­priority."

He also vowed to do his best at the World Championships, which is "very important to us."

The men's hurdles title went to David Oliver of the US in 13.15 seconds.

"Everyone in the final is capable of winning the title," Oliver said. "So it's not only one or more people I need to beat. I need to do my best."

He also had something to say about the 25-year-old Xie.

"He has to train a little bit more and get better, he is still very young," Oliver said.

"He needs more time to get to a ­higher level."

Out of the disappointed ones, China's Zhang Guowei claimed the men's high jump title at 2.34 meters, one centimeter short of his personal best.

"I entered several competitions, which made me feel exhausted lately," Zhang Guowei said.

He is eyeing his "dream" of 2.40 ­meters.

"The atmosphere is excellent, I've never competed with the so many ­people cheering me on," Zhang said of his "home advantage."

"I will challenge the 2.40-meter mark when I'm ready."

Home long jump favorite Li Jinzhe only finished fourth at 8.13 meters. His old-time rival Aleksandr Menkov of ­Russia placed third. The gold

medal went to American Michael Hartfield, who jumped 8.27 meters after four tries.

London Olympic gold medalist Anna Chicherova of Russia easily captured the women's high jump event at 1.94 ­meters.

China's Wei Yongli, gold medalist of the women's 100-meter dash at the Incheon Asian Games, clocked 11.55 ­seconds, placing sixth.