16.07.2009

Pittman-Rawlinson back on track

Reigning world 400m hurdles champion Jana Pittman-Rawlinson has made a return to competition in Luzern overnight, finishing a promising second behind Romania’s Angela Morosanu.

Olympic 100m hurdles silver medalist Sally McLellan and national javelin champion Kimberley Mickle also took out their respective events, as the lead-up to the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Berlin continues.

In the women’s 400m hurdles event, Pittman-Rawlinson finished second with a season best time of 55.34 behind Morosanu in 54.82.  Nigeria’s Joke Odumosu (55.59) finished third with Australia’s Lauren Boden running 57.68 to finish seventh.

The competition, which was running one hour behind schedule for most of the meet, was Pittman-Rawlinson’s first race since her initial return to competition in Malaga, Spain on June 28 where she won in 55.67.

Pittman-Rawlinson, whose most recent battle with injury involves tightness in the hamstring, said it felt like her first race back all over again given her difficulties following Malaga.

“It was a bit strange, I got my butt kicked and I am supposed to be the world champion.  Everyone was looking at me thinking why are you looking so happy but it’s just great to be back racing,” a relieved Pittman-Rawlinson said.

“I made good rhythm to the ninth (hurdle) but had the usual issues with last hurdle, but we are still five weeks out from worlds.”

The next test for the 26-year-old is a successful recovery and the ability to string together some consistent races.

“I have pulled up really well so far, obviously my hamstring is still a bit tight but fingers crossed I wake up ok tomorrow,” Pittman-Rawlinson said.

“I certainly feel like I deserve a few things to start going right.

“I has been difficult to organise a race schedule.  It has been more of a case of hoping to be on the start line so the strategy has been just to turn up and race when the body feels right.”

All going to plan, Pittman-Rawlinson will race in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium on Saturday night followed by the London Grand Prix on July 25.

Despite having just one opportunity to clear two warm up hurdles in the last 55 minutes before her race, McLellan won the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.73, ahead of the United States’ Lolo Jones (12.92) and Tiffany Ofili (13.07).

McLellan’s coach Sharon Hannan was conscious of the effects of the interrupted warm up.

“The race wasn’t a good indicator of where Sally is at.  On my reckoning, I think it was around a 12.5 run,” Hannan said.

Suffering a minor cut on her heel from a spike, McLellan will miss the Paris meet this weekend, but will still compete in London on July 25 and Monaco on July 28.

Mickle took out the women’s javelin event with a best throw of 62.09m.  Poland’s Urszula Piwicka (59.62) and Slovenia’s Martina Ratej (58.94) rounded out the minor placings.

In other results:

-         Joel Milburn finished fourth in the men’s 400m in 46.16 behind Tabarie Henry (45.76) of the Virgin Islands

-         Brendan Cole (49.91) finished fifth in the 400m hurdles, narrowly missing out on a world championships B-qualifier.

-         Justin Merlino (14.24) finished fifth in the men’s 110m hurdles (B race)

-         Nick Bromley (1:48.09) finished seventh in the men’s 800m

-         Jacinta Boyd finished seventh in the women’s long jump with a best jump of 6.30

-         The women’s 4x100m relay team were disqualified.

The action continues with Paul Burgess contesting the men’s pole vault in Paris tomorrow night; and on Saturday night with Madeline Pape, Brendan Cole and Jacinta Boyd competing in Zaragoza, Spain and Scott Martin, Joel Milburn, Ryan Gregson, Lauren Boden, Collis Birmingham and Pittman-Rawlinson competing in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium.