Andy Silver, NBCOlympics.com

The 2008 Indoor Track and Field World Championships were held in Valencia, Spain over the weekend, and while many athletes are not competing indoors this season, the U.S. still won the most medals (13) and tied for the most golds (five, with Russia). Here are a few takeaways from the event:

Liu Looking Good: China’s most popular athlete, defending Olympic 110m hurdles champion Liu Xiang, won the 2008 indoor 60m hurdles world title, making an early statement in the Olympic season. The anticipated matchup between Liu and Cuban hurdler Dayron Robles (fourth at 2007 Worlds) did not materialize. In his heat, Robles thought that there had been a false start and pulled up, only to realize later that it was clean start and the heat counted. Another miscue occurred when organizers of the event accidentally played Chile’s national anthem with Liu on the podium, and the medal ceremony had to be held twice. Finishing second behind Liu was American veteran and 1996 Olympic gold medalist Allen Johnson. Robles and American Terrence Trammell (silver at 2007 Worlds) should challenge Liu in Beijing, during what is likely to be the most pressure-packed (and most watched) 13 seconds of the Games. At age 37, Johnson will be hoping to qualify for Beijing from among the crowded American hurdler ranks.