SALLY BACK ON TRACK
LONDON BRINGS OUT BEST:
SALLY Pearson has returned to the scene of her greatest triumph to breath life into her world athletics championships campaign.
The 2012 Olympic champion produced her fastest 100m hurdles race in five years at the London Diamond League meet.
Returning to the track where she claimed an Olympic gold medal, the Gold Coaster finished second in 12.48sec, which is the equal sixth fastest time of her career.
World record holder Kendra Harrison claimed victory in 12.39sec but for the first time this season she was pushed by Pearson.
The American will start a hot favourite for the world title on the same track next month but Pearson is back in the medal mix for the first time since injury derailed her career in 2015.
It’s been a long way back for the 30-year-old who missed defending her Olympic crown in Rio last year because of injury.
Pearson now coaches herself and the London result was a welcome confidence boost after some tough times.
“My times and my sprints have been improving but I had to prove to myself that I could actually do it so it was really nice to get that run today,’’ she said.
“I knew my preparations for London were going well but it was frustrating that I was running slow times. I really wanted to prove to myself that I am ready to go.’’
There were several other strong Australian performances at the Diamond League meet.
Olympic long jump finalist Brooke Stratton returned from injury to produce a world championships qualifier just 12 days before the entry deadline.
Stratton jumped 6.79m to finish third behind Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta (7.01m) and Olympic bronze medallist Ivana Spanovic (6.88m).
Rising distance star Patrick Tiernan set his fifth consecutive personal best time to finish fourth in the 3000m in 7min37.76sec behind English hero Mo Farah.
In the javelin, Commonwealth Games medallist Kelsey-Lee Roberts set her second personal best in four days, 64.38m, to finish fifth while Olympic finalist Kathryn Mitchell was sixth (63.25m).
Rio Olympics 1500m semi-finalist Linden Hall ran the fastest mile by an Australian woman for a decade, setting a personal best time of 4:23.96 in ninth place.
Ryan Gregson was the first of the Aussie men home in the mile event, placing fourth in 3:35.17sec.
I REALLY WANTED TO PROVE TO MYSELF THAT I AM READY TO GO
SALLY PEARSON