Sally Pearson won the 100m hurdles at the Diamond League in Birmingham in a time of 12.48, which is both the fastest time in the world this year and a new national record.
Sally Pearson won the 100m hurdles at the Samsung Diamond League in Birmingham in a time of 12.48, which is both the fastest time in the world this year and a new national record.
Pearson arrived in Birmingham as a genuine threat to the American force of Danielle Carruthers and Kellie Wells, having beaten both in her opening Samsung Diamond League meet, in Lausanne.
She showed her intent in the first heat, when she clocked 12.57, which at the time was a new stadium record. Carruthers won the second heat (12.61) with Wells just behind her.
There had been a light fall of rain before the final and the field was held a long time in the blocks as the men’s triple jump continued. But Pearson was unperturbed and with Carruthers and Virginia Crawford (USA) either side of her in lane four, she was the quickest out of the blocks and then led the race from start to finish.
The 24-year-old crossed the line in 12.48, which is a time no-one else has run faster than, both in the world this year and ever in Oceania as she broke her previously held area record.
As she had done in Lausanne, Carruthers finished behind Pearson, with a new personal best time of 12.52, while Crawford was third and Wells fourth.
“It's really exciting to set a new stadium record in my first race in Birmingham and it’s good to leave a mark here,” Pearson said.
“I knew I was in that sort of shape today. I really did. I've come to Europe to get ready for the World Champs and I've had fantastic preparation. It's all just come together. I'm in shape, I've got my diet right, I haven't missed anything and I'm happy as well.
“It was so noisy at the start but you try and draw that into yourself and use it. I was able to do that today. I had a fantastic start and my last four hurdles were my best. I just want it so much. I've always wanted to be the best in the world and I'm heading in that direction. I'm really, really happy. A national record as well. Everything feels in such good shape.”
Zoe Buckman followed Pearson on the track and perhaps inspired by such an impressive performance she went on to set a new personal best in the 1500m. Buckman finished 11th in 4:08.57 while America’s Morgan Uceny won in 4:05.64.
Craig Mottram and Collis Birmingham competed in a loaded men’s 5000m and found themselves leading the pack with 600m to go. When the final bell sounded Britain’s Mo Farah stepped up in front of his home crowd and led a huge charge to the finish line to win in 13:06.14. However, Mottram and Birmingham’s early efforts paid off as they both recorded season best times of 13:11.51 and 13:15.70 respectively, which are well under the World Championships A-qualifying standard.
The only athlete in the field was Dani Samuels who pulled out a huge throw in her final round of 62.33m, which exceeds her previously longest throw of the season of 62.20m, set in Perth. Germany’s Nadine Muller won the discus with an effort of 65.75 and USA’s Aretha Thurmod finished second with a heave of 62.65.
The final Flame athlete in action was Tamsyn Manou who ran a time of 2:03.14 over the 800m. Home athlete Marilyn Okoro had led the race until the final 200m, when her compatriot Jenny Meadows stormed past her to win in 2:02.06.
Athletics Australia
