Australian Sally Pearson replicated the form that bagged her the world outdoor high hurdles title to scoop gold in the world indoor 60m hurdles here on Saturday.
The current IAAF female athlete of the year timed a blistering 7.73 seconds over the five hurdles at a packed Atakoy Arena.
Only four women have run faster than Pearson's indoor time, with Sweden's Susanna Kallur the world record holder at 7.68sec.
US-born Briton Tiffany Porter, at the centre of a "plastic Brit" controversy earlier in the week, clocked 7.94sec for silver, with Belarus' Alina Talay taking bronze (7.97).
"World indoor was my main priority this 'winter' season," said Pearson. "Now I have 10 days off before starting to train again.
"I cannot believe it. I felt the pressure but I was in fantastic shape. And I was ready."
Pearson lined up in Istanbul as a relative novice, having only raced competitively three times indoors, once in the hurdles.
Her many plaudits having come at outdoor competition, notably when she clocked a fourth-fastest time ever of 12.28sec to win world gold in Daegu.
"Olympic preparations are going well," Pearson said ahead of the race. "My form coming out of the world champs has spearheaded me into the next season.
"All I have to do now is to stay uninjured and look after myself, and then see what happens."
Silver medallist Porter said she was satisfied with her podium showing.
"I was happy to execute my race well in the final," said the hurdler born in Michigan to Nigerian and English parents and a junior US athlete.
She was controversially named as Team GB captain for these championships and set the British press alight when she refused to show them that she knew the words to the national anthem, God Save the Queen.
"I always like to run with Sally Pearson. I am glad to have regained my composure after the semi-final," Porter said
"I was able to follow my own advice, the advice I gave to the British team at my team speech. I am the team captain and told myself to regain my composure."
Many cynics had dubbed Porter an opportunist who has only changed nationality because she had little or no prospect of competing for the US team at the London Olympics in the 100m hurdles.
But now she will go to the Games as one of the British team's medal hopes after showing her worth against Pearson.
Another joining her in that bracket will be Cuban-born Yamile Aldama, who previously competed for Cuba and Sudan before switching allegiances to the British flag: she earlier won gold in the triple jump at the age of 39.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dominant-pearson-nails-indoor-hurdle-title-185149804.html
march madness doonesbury st bonaventure st. bonaventure uss enterprise iona tournament brackets
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.