In her most serious encounter since returning to competition after giving birth to son Cornelus last December, Jana Rawlinson (nee Pittman) has defeated a star-studded line up to take victory at the IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting in Athens overnight.

Rawlinson (54.25) and pole vaulter Steve Hooker (5.85m) both scored stunning victories against high quality international fields.

800m runner Tamsyn Lewis also broke two minutes for the first time this year, to put her hand up for selection in the Osaka World Championships team.

Despite a significant pause at the final barrier, Rawlinson’s victorious time of 54.25 is the fifth fastest in the world this year.

Tiffany Ross-Williams (USA), the fastest women in the world in 2007, finished second (54.38), with 2006 European Cup champion Yevgeniya Isakova from Russia third (54.58).

Olympic champion Fania Halkia of Greece was a late withdrawal after injuring her back during the warm-up – denying Rawlinson a rematch of the Olympic final at the same venue three years ago.

“I was more pleased with the way the race was won than my time,” explained the 24-year-old.

“The last hurdle was a mess. I stopped which cost me half a second. Elite hurdlers shouldn’t do that and it was a bad decision. I’ve got to iron it out to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

Having not raced at an elite international competition since the Commonwealth Games last year, Rawlinson was slightly nervous prior to the race.

“I actually looked down at the start list and got a little bit nervous. I thought oh my god, my season’s best has never been last on the list before.”

“Tonight was a step in the right direction but it’s not time to have a party yet.”

“Over the next few weeks I’ll continue to work on my speed and rhythm, however the key is to get to Osaka injury free. I need to make it to the start line.”

Rawlinson will next grace the track this Friday night at the lucrative Paris Golden League meet where she will once again greet a high-class field – including world champion and world record holder Yulia Nosova of Russia.

Hooker may have missed out on the magical six-metre mark, however the Commonwealth Games champion stamped his authority on the international scene in the first hit out of his European campaign.

Clearing 5.85 metres in warm and still conditions, the 24-year-old defeated Russian Igor Pavlov (5.80m) and 2006 world indoor champion Brad Walker (5.75m).

After securing victory, Hooker had three unsuccessful attempts at 6.01m.

“It was actually a bit of a struggle tonight. It was more determination which got me through in the end,” explained Hooker, the 2006 World Cup champion.

“A few things were learnt tonight which I’ll work on next in Lausanne. Lots of things have changed (in my technique) so I’m still adjusting.”

As is the random case with pole vaulting, Paul Burgess had a disappointing evening, no heighting.

Eleven-time national champion Tamsyn Lewis gave Australian team selectors something to think about with an impressive run in the 800m. Finishing fifth, her world championships A-qualifying time of 1:59.45 was impressive – the 13th fastest in the world this year and her fastest time since 2003.

Russia’s Svetlana Cherkasova was the two-lap victor in 1:59.03.

Meanwhile 2007 national 1500m champion Lisa Corrigan was extremely unlucky in her first major international meet in Europe.

The 22-year-old was tripped by Canadian Carmen Douma-Hussar with only 500 metres to go and she did not finish the race.

Sprinter Josh Ross recorded 10.33 (-0.4) in his heat of the 100m but did not progress through to the final. Derrick Atkins (BAH) set a national record to win in 9.95 (+0.3).

NSWIS athlete Youcef Abdi did not finish in the 3000m steeplechase.

Across in Malmo, Sweden, Patrick Johnson recorded 10.56 (-2.6) and 20.70 (-1.3) to finish second in the 100m/200m double. Mark Ormrod placed fourth in 46.47 over the one lap, whilst Brad Woods (3:39.83) and Jeremy Roff (3:40.30) crossed the line sixth and eighth respectively in the 1500m.

Athletics Australia