by Alfonz Juck
Sally Pearson, photo by PhotoRun.netPearson 12.53w
SYDNEY (AUS, Apr 2): Sally Pearson was close to her best on the last day of the Australian Athletics Championships where she won the 100m hurdles final in a marginally wind-assisted 12.53 (+2.3). Pearson also sealed the qualifying standard for the World Championships with a 12.75 clocking in the heats. “I’ve been nervous about this for two weeks. I don’t know why I put so much pressure on myself, and I know that (the final) time was illegal but I am safe with the heat time. I’ve got the qualifier and I’m through,” she said. Former world champion Dani Stevens (nee Samuels) won the discus with a 65.07m throw and had two other throws over 64 metres while Hamish Peacock went out to 84.34m to win the javelin. Ryan Gregson won the 1500m in 3:52.86 and world U20 pole vault silver medallist Kurtis Marschall cleared 5.45m to claim the win. Guest sprinters topped 200 m finals against strong wind, New Zealand´s Joseph Millar 21.09 (-3.1) and Toea Wisil of Papua New Guinea 23.76 (-2.4). Hurdles winners Nicholas Hough 13.53 (+3.5), Ian Dewhurst 49.77 and Lauren Wells 56.60. Malaysian Lee Hup Wei won high jump 224. With help from Athletics Australia.
