Injured Pearson leading the cheers for young teammates
IT’S not the job description Australia wanted but Sally Pearson the cheerleader has started work.
The hurdles champion emerged back into the spotlight to support her teammates on the second morning session of the track and field program at Carrara Stadium.
After taking several days to deal with the pain of her Games withdrawal because of an ongoing achilles injury, Pearson is ready for her new role.
The 2012 Olympic champion joked she would become “water girl” for the rest of the team last week and is taking the job seriously.
Pearson spent time at the warm-up track yesterday morning and was then in the stands as her male counterpart Nick Hough progressed through to the semi-finals of the 110m hurdles.
She has taken on an assistant coaching role with young Western Australian Brianna Beahan, who along with Michelle Jenneke will be Australia’s remaining representatives in the 100m hurdles.
Pearson attended the swimming on Sunday night and went to the gymnastics, given her affinity with the sport in which she was a state level representative at junior level.
It was a promising start for the track and field team without its co-captain, with three medals on the opening day including double 20km walk gold.
Under her watchful eye yesterday morning, Anneliese Rubie and Morgan Mitchell progressed through to the 400m semi-finals.
Unfortunately, the much anticipated senior debut for 17year-old Bendere Oboya didn’t go according to plan.
An untimely hamstring injury hampered the Commonwealth Youth champion’s preparation and she struggled into sixth place in her heat.
A distraught Oboya didn’t want to make excuses after- wards but admitted her preparation had been complicated.
“I had a hamstring problem, a little niggle, but I just have to move on from it,” she said.
“I don’t care about age, don’t like making excuses.”
Rubie was impressive, with the national champion upgraded to first in her heat after Nigeria’s Patience Okon George was disqualified for running out of her lane.
In the men’s high jump qualifying, Brandon Starc sailed through, clearing 2.21m. I