A world lead and meet record of 12.49 (w: +0.7) has ensured a gutsy victory for Sally Pearson (Qld) to open her international campaign in resounding fashion at Round 5 of the Diamond League in Oslo (NOR) this morning.

Bursting out of the blocks in to sit well ahead of her rivals before the first hurdle, Pearson won her heat in 12.59 (w: +0.4) from Kristi Castlin (USA, second, 12.74) and Jessica Ennis (GBR, third, 12.83).

The final started dramatically with Castlin calling for athletes to stand up from the start before Ennis was disqualified for false starting.

Getting underway on a third attempt, Pearson blazed over the 10 barriers before putting her foot down to cross and win in the same time she did at the Qantas Melbourne Track Classic & Olympic Trials from Castlin (12.56, second, personal best) and Tiffany Porter (GBR, third, 12.70).

Pearson’s performance sees her move rapidly up the Diamond Race rankings to second onfour points alongside Kellie Wells (USA) and Dawn Harper (USA) and behind leader Brigitte Foster-Hylton (JAM, 5 points).
 
To be based in Cologne (GER) for the coming few weeks, Pearson will then compete at the Paris (FRA) and London (GBR) instalments of the Samsung Diamond League. She will join her Australian Flame teammates in camp at the Tonbridge School in Tonbridge Wells (GBR) in mid-July.
 
In the next event, national 1500m record holder Ryan Gregson (NSW) finished 10th in the ExxonMobil Dream Mile when he crossed in 3:53.90.
 
Gregson’s performance is his best over the distance since the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene (USA) in 2010, and thefastest by an Australian this year.
 
The lead pack were led through 400m (54.53) and 800m (1:51.61) by Andrew Kiptoo Rotich (KEN), before Olympic and world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop headed to the front to cross and win in a world lead of 3:49.22. Caleb Ndiku (KEN) set a season best of 3:50.00 for second, with Mekonnen Gebremedhin (ETH, 3:50.02) third.
 
In other highlights:
-       In the men’s 100m, Usain Bolt (JAM) battled it out to the line with his compatriot Asafa Powell (JAM, 9.85) to just take victory in a meet record time of 9.79 (w: +0.6).
-       European champion Sandra Perkovic (CRO) won the women’s discus throw with a 64.39m best mark, to sit on top and well ahead of her nearest rival in the Diamond Race on 12 points.
-       Soaring over 5.82m on his first attempt before stumbling at 5.92m, Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) won the men’s pole vault from Malte Mohr (GER, second, 5.62m) and Lukasz Michalski (POL, third, 5.52m)
-       Improving the African record and the meet record, Milcah Chemos (KEN) crossed first in the women’s 3000m steeplechase in a time of 9:07.14.
-       Javier Culson(PUR) clocked 47.92 to set a new world lead and win the men’s 400m hurdles from Jehue Gordon (TRI, second, 48.78) and Justin Gaymon (USA, third, 48.97), who both ran a season best.
-       World champion Amantle Monsho (BOT) improved on her second place at the Prefontaine Classic last weekend to take line honours in the women’s 400m in 49.68 and sit as clear leader in the Diamond Race on 8 points.

Athletics Australia