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Pittman-Rawlinson withdraws from world champs
Dual world champion Jana Pittman-Rawlinson will not defend her world title in Berlin, a back-related injury forcing her withdrawal from next month’s world championships.
Pittman-Rawlinson has only raced twice since returning to the track last month after a year-long layoff due to complications from a serious toe injury that forced her out of the Beijing Olympics.
The 26-year-old pulled up with hamstring soreness after last week's meet in Lucerne and the problem was recently diagnosed as neural caused by a bulging disc in her back.
The injury has restricted Pittman-Rawlinson at training, and with just three weeks remaining until the commencement of the world championships, Pittman-Rawlinson believes that she cannot line up on the start line in Berlin and be at her competitive best.
“Unfortunately the injury to my back has meant I haven’t been able to train properly for six weeks and despite intensive treatment, it is still causing me a lot of pain and hampering my running,” said Pittman-Rawlinson from her base in London.
“When I compete I want to do both myself and my country justice by competing at a world standard, but sadly this won’t be the case at the upcoming world championships.
“I will now continue treatment over the next few weeks before I head back to Australia, where I hope I can recover from this latest setback and get back on track for my long term goal and dream - winning Olympic gold in London.”
Despite the absence of reigning world champions Pittman-Rawlinson and 50km race walker Nathan Deakes, Australia will still be sending a strong 48-member team to the world championships led by Olympic medallists Steve Hooker, Sally McLellan and Jared Tallent.
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