Pearson happy in her prep
AUSTRALIA’S athletics head coach Craig Hilliard says selfcoached Sally Pearson is in a “happy place’’ heading towards her Gold Coast Commonwealth Games career highlight.
Queensland’s world 100m hurdles champion ran her fourth- fastest time of the 13month qualifying period for Commonwealth Games selection in Brisbane on February 4, when she clocked 12.68 sec, ahead of the national titles which start today at Carrara Stadium.
Pearson would clinch selection for the April Commonwealth Games by finishing first or second in Saturday night’s 100m hurdles final because she has met the event’s A- qualifying time standard.
The 31- year- old’s strategy of coaching herself brought her one of her sweetest gold medals at the London world championships last year, but Hilliard said Pearson is happy to seek other opinions where it helps her.
“Sally knows what works and what hasn’t worked for her – she is happy to consult other people and it’s working really well for her,’’ Hilliard said.
“She is in a happy space in what she is doing. She has always loved racing and has supported our domestic season as she has always done.
“I’m her athletic performance adviser and we work closely together. She shares her programs and what she is thinking with me. Any athlete can learn from the belief Sally has in herself.”