Athletics Australia – News – Pearson, Birmingham and Samuels in action in Monaco

Crossing in 12.75 (w: -0.5), Olympic champion Sally Pearson (Qld) has tonight placed 5th in the women’s 100m hurdles at Round 10 of the IAAF Diamond League in Monaco (MON).

Delivering on her trademark impressive start with a reaction time of 0.144, the 26-year-old was in the hunt for a top-three finish in the early stages before fading at the last hurdle to cross 0.11 seconds behind winner Queen Harrison (USA, first, 12.64).

Pearson’s start in Monaco comes in the midst of a heavy training load, with the Oceania and Australian record holder to enter a quieter phase of training this week ahead of the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at the Olympic & Paralympic Stadium in London (GBR) next weekend.

Collis Birmingham (Vic) joined Pearson on track in the men’s 5000m, with the two-time national 10,000m champion clocking 13:29.48 to finish 10th overall behind winner Edwin Soi (KEN, first, 12:51.34, WL).

Birmingham’s run is slightly quicker than his time at the Birmingham Grand Prix as part of the IAAF Diamond League last month, and only two seconds off his season best set at the Briggs Athletics Classic as part of the 2013 National Athletics Series earlier this year.

Rounding out the Australians in action was Dani Samuels (NSW), who with a throw of 61.32m in round three placed 5th in the women’s discus throw behind winner Christina Obergfoll (GER).

Throwing only a single foul, Samuels series also include 55.96m, 59.87m, 60,29m and 59,83m.

The IAAF Diamond League now moves to London for the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games next weekend, while Australian Flame team of 36 will compete at the IPC Athletics World Championships.

Competition in Lyon commences on Saturday morning local time, with seven-time Paralympian Russell Short (Vic) and Australian T46 1500m record holder Michael Roeger (Vic) both in action.

Athletics Australia – News

To view complete results from the IAAF Diamond League, please click here.