Athletics Australia – News – Pearson ready to rumble in Lausanne

Sally Pearson believes she is in great shape, and has the time to prove it, as she prepares to compete in her first IAAF Diamond League meet in Lausanne tonight.

The Olympic silver medallist arrived in Europe having posted her fastest time of the year, of 12.74, over the hurdles at Round 3 of the Gold Coast Winter Series, and it is a time which she thinks may have slipped under the radar of her closest rivals as they competed in the opening five Diamond League rounds.

"I was a bit shocked at the times that I ran but at the same I knew that I had that in me to also run well. I was really happy knowing that I was getting on the plane with those times behind me, ready for my first meet,” Pearson said.

"I've got a really good feeling about this year. I'm feeling strong and physically wise I'm lean and strong as well. My training has not been, touch wood, interrupted at all. I had a clean sweep after the Commonwealth Games and have been going fantastic.

"It's (the Diamond League) been quite good so far, especially Kellie Wells who is going so well and Danielle Carruthers is coming up as well so it's quite nerve wracking, but I've been waiting to come over to Europe for months now – I've been counting down and have been so excited.

“I'm in good shape, I ran 12.74 at the Gold Coast with no-one around me, I had no competition whatsoever, so it kind of gives me a lot more confidence coming in with these girls because once I have competition and that atmosphere I feel like I can do anything really."

The USA have dominated the hurdles over the first part of the season and it is Wells who has stolen the headlines, having clocked a world-lead time of 12.50 at the US Trials in Eugene last week to become national champion. The result of the trials consequently saw one of Pearson's rivals, Lolo Jones, fail to even make the final and with it her place in the team to the IAAF world championships.

"You don't have Lolo (Jones) but then you have Kellie Wells, or Danielle, or another American. So it doesn't really matter who's going to be on their (USA) team because it's always going to be really good. The US squad is one of the hardest teams to make and whoever is going to be on that team in your event is going to be a competitor so it doesn't really matter who is and isn't on the team.

"When the female hurdlers get on the track you never know who's going to win. We're not afraid of competition, we love head-to-head competition all the time and that's what I think makes the hurdles unique as well in that you never know who will win and who will come out. You never know who that new person coming up will be, Kellie Wells is there at the moment, I want to beat her but you know I guess I want to beat everyone so it makes me more excited to get out there."

The first hurdle to clear is today's meet in Lausanne, where Pearson will be looking to remind her American counterparts that she is a force to be reckoned with. And while she might not have been able to watch Bernard Tomic's valiant effort at Wimbledon she believes that she is also an underdog figure, when it comes to Daegu.

"I didn't even feel pressure going into Berlin at all, I didn't even realise in a way that I was number one going into the competition but I guess before then I had an injury so it took away a bit of pressure I was more focused on what I had to do to get onto the track.

“This year I feel that the Americans have taken the pressure off and they're the ones under pressure at the moment and I'm just coming into it, as a lower 'not-known' athlete. I haven't got anything to lose – I've got everything to gain.

"No-one really know what's going on (with my performances) at the moment, no-one's really heard of the times I've been running in Australia so it's kind of a bit exciting that I'm coming in as an underdog when really I'm running and feeling really great."

A former world youth champion, Pearson also sent her best wishes to the Australian world youth championships team set to join her in Europe on Saturday.

"Good luck to all the World Youth Championships going to Lille."

"I won my first title at the World Youths in 2003 and I'm here now representing Australia still, Usain Bolt was competing too and look where he is now

"Hopefully it won't be the end for most of the athletes but rather just the start of a great journey for all of you into senior athletics."

Joining Pearson in Lausanne is former world record holder Asafa Powell (JAM) who will race European champion Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) in the 100m.

World record holder David Rudisha (KEN) faces world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA) in the 800m while another world record holder, Dayron Robles (CUB) takes to the track in the 110m hurdles.

Phillips Idowu (GBR) and Teddy Tamgho (FRA) lock horns in the triple jump while Frenchman Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) and Romain Mesnil (FRA) take to the pole-vault.

Also in the field is Croation high jumper Blanka Vlasic and Olympic discus champion Stephanie Brown-Trafton (USA).

IAAF Diamond League – Lausanne (SUI)
Thursday, June 30

8:45pm (4:45am Friday, July 1 AEST)
110m hurdles: Sally Pearson

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Athletics Australia – News