Athletics Australia – News – Pearson on fire in Perth

The defending champion Sally Pearson (Qld) has cemented her position as favourite for the world indoor 60m hurdles title next month after she blazed the straight to clock 12.59 (w: -0.2) and win the women's 100m hurdles at the Go for 2&5 Perth Track Classic.

The first event on what is shaping into a very exciting 2014 Australian Athletics Tour, Pearson was but one of many outstanding performances at the WA Athletics Stadium, with Melissa Breen (ACT, 100m), Alana Boyd (Qld, pole vault), Kim Mickle (WA, javelin), Kathryn Mitchell (Vic, javelin) and Kelsey–Lee Roberts (ACT, javelin) joining her on the Commonwealth Games A-Qualifier list and a further 27 athletes bettering the Commonwealth Games ‘B' Standard for their event.

Pearson's hurdles race was the second event on the track as part of the main program, and the Olympic champion didn't disappoint the estimated crowd of 4100.

A clear leader at the first hurdle, she never looked back, making light work of the ten barriers between her and the finish line to launch her 2014 campaign faster than she ever has before. Local talent Shannon McCann was second (WA, 13.15, CG-B) and IAAF World Junior Championships finalist Michelle Jenneke (NSW, 13.34) third.

"That was fun. That was awesome. And there are so many things that I can work on. My lead leg wasn't exactly where I wanted it to be but I could feel the speed. I've shown that I've had the speed the last couple of weeks, and I just need to perfect my technique and rhythm for the hurdles to bring that clock down further," Pearson said.

"It's such a relief. I was so worried about my hamstring. It's obviously not ready to do a double event program and I don't think it would have held up for the second race tonight. For me it is about getting out there and hurdling as much as possible because the World Indoors are around the corner, and I'm a hurdler at heart – I just love it!

"You don't understand how amazing that time is. It has been a little stressful moving to a new coach and you never know how things will go when you come back to the hurdles. It is just so exciting to see that time knowing that I have hurdles training ahead and when I run across 60m indoors it will be very quick."

Pearson departs for Europe early tomorrow morning, with competition scheduled for Berlin (GER) next week before the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Sopot (POL) on 7-9 March.

Breen too was dominant. After slipping in the blocks and being called back for a restart, the new Australian 100m record holder was strong throughout to win the women's 100m in 11.31 (w: +1.1) from Ashleigh Whittaker (Vic, second, 11.58) and Toea Wisil (PNG, third, 11.67).

The win delivers Breen a third Commonwealth Games A-Qualifier in the women's 100m, and ensures that she remains the woman to beat in the short sprint at the Australian Athletics Championships in April.

In other sprint highlights, Jarrod Geddes (NSW) became the first Australian man with a Commonwealth Games B-Qualifier in the sprints after he placed second in 20.59 (w: +1.1) to Simon Magakwe (RSA, first, 20.58) in the men's 200m and LaShawn Merritt (USA) won the men's 400m in 45.90 from Craig Burns (Qld, second, 46.21, PB) and Ben Offereins (WA, third, 47.19). 

"Tonight was pretty good. I've just got back from a couple of tough weeks of training in Jamaica so I am happy to be just out there running in good shape. The results are a bonus tonight, I would have liked a bit quicker but it will come," Geddes said.

"I'm looking forward to running in Sydney, you have the friends and family around you and I know that the atmosphere will be great. Hopefully I can drop something big and cement my form ahead of the Nationals in April."

"This is the earliest I have ran in a long time. It felt good to run 45 seconds this early in the year, the crowd was great, the weather is perfect and it's a strong opening for me," Merritt said.

"The season hasn't even started for me. I'm in good enough shape to run well here for you guys, and I'm looking forward to getting back to Australia next month. I'm headed home to get some more work under my belt before then and hopefully I'll drop that time for the crowds over east."

Shining in the longer middle distance races, James Magut (KEN, 3:53.73), Collis Birmingham (Vic, 3:54.92, 1500m CG-B) and Paul Robinson (IRE, 3:59.56) became the 5th, 6th, and 7th men in history to break the 4-minute mile mark in Perth after their outstanding top-three finish, while Zoe Buckman (Vic, second, 4:07.56), Kaila McKnight (Vic, third, 4:07.92) and Melissa Duncan (Vic, 4th, 4:09.13) all achieved Commonwealth Games ‘B' Standards in the women's 1500m when they crossed behind winner Susan Kuijken (NED, 4:07.21).

Mickle won the javelin with a best mark of 63.37m in third round from Roberts (ACT, second, 61.99m) and Mitchell (Vic, third, 60.42m). A little disappointed that she missed the national javelin record at her home stadium in Perth, Mickle was still pleased by her performance because it shows that she is in the form she expected to be this early in the season.

"I thought I had the national record tonight. I had a spectacular warm up, but I compete in one of those events where if you just miss it the javelin won't go anywhere and tonight was a bit like that. That said, to say that 63 metres is not hitting it is a great thing and that's probably where I should be at for this time of year. Adelaide was a big surprise and I still hit my goal tonight in terms of distance so I can't complain," Mickle said.

"I've got a big block of training for a month now, and then it's off to Melbourne for the World Challenge. I want to replicate what I did in Adelaide there and I think I could get the national record. I want it so bad and with the girls that I have around me it is very possible. I am so thankful to have girls like Kathryn and Kelsey in the field ready to throw huge next to me."

Boyd's leap of 4.55m in the women's pole vault brings her Commonwealth Games ‘A' Standard tally to three, with three further opportunities to jump domestically this National Athletics Series. Edging out Vicky Parnov (WA, second, 4.25m, CG-B), Emma Phillippe (WA, third, 4.10m, CG-B) and Liz Parnov (WA, fourth, 4.10m, CG-B) for the win, she believes she is in shape to jump heights similar to her national record of 4.76m in the near future.

"I am happy with another A-Qualifier, but as athletes you want more. My best is 4.76 and I think I am in shape to jump like that so it's a little bit frustrating," Boyd said.

"Coming off the surgery and rehab that I have had though I am pretty happy. It's only my third comp off a full run, and I have good jumps to show for it with three more opportunities to improve domestically this season as well. It is nice to be in good shape, nice to be confident on the runway and great to have the knowledge that I don't need to worry about whether I can get up to clear the bar.

In other highlights:
–        Joel Pocklington (Vic) won the men's pole vault with a Commonwealth Games B-Qualifier of 4.25m.

–        A new personal best of 77.50m saw Luke Cann (Vic) win the men's javelin from Stuart Farquhar (NZL, second, 75.65m) and Hamish Peacock (Tas, third, 74.40m). Cann and Peacock's performances were both Commonwealth Games ‘B' Standards.

–        Damien Birkinhead (Vic) achieved his second Commonwealth Games B-Qualifier in the men's shot put, with his mark of 18.43m in the penultimate round enough to score victory.

–        A 7.76m (w: +0.0) in the penultimate round ensured men's long jump victory for Thomas Soliman (Qld). It is his first Commonwealth Games B-Qualifier.

–        Both Sam Baines (Vic, 13.70) and Nicholas Hough (NSW, 13.73) stopped the clock below the Commonwealth Games ‘B' Standard in the men's 110m hurdles to cross the line first and second respectively.

–        A new personal best of 2.23m saw Chris Dodd (NSW) edge out Brandon Starc (NSW, second, 2.23m) on count back in the men's high jump.

–        The outstanding season of Joshua Ralph (NSW) continued, with the Australian Flame clocking 1:46.25 to achieve yet another Commonwealth Games ‘B' Standard in the men's 800m. Jeff Riseley (Vic) was second (1:46.54, CG-B) and Alex Rowe finished third (1:46.77, CG-B).

The 2014 Australian Athletics Tour now moves to Sydney (NSW) on Saturday 15 March, with the event providing a crescendo to the week long Australian Junior Athletics Championships, which will also be held at Sydney Olympic Park. 

Bringing together Australia and the world's best athletes once more, the international contingent will again be led by Merritt, with the world champion to be joined by David Oliver (USA, 110m hurdles) and Mike Rodgers (USA, 100m/200m).

For more information on the 2014 National Athletics Series, incorporating the Australian Athletics Tour, please click here.

To download results from the Go for 2&5 Perth Track Classic, please click here.

The Go for 2&5 Perth Track Classic will be televised nationally on Network Ten tomorrow at 1:00pm, before continued replays on ONE and Fox Sports in the coming days.

For more information, please click here. 

 

 Athletics Australia – News