O'Hanlon clocks world record as Pearson dominates in Brisbane

 

Crossing the line in a to be ratified 10.91 (w: +0.1), an improvement on the record he set at the Beijing Paralympics by 0.05, O’Hanlon tonight started alongside his able-bodied counterparts in the men’s 100m.

 

O’Hanlon said: “This is a testament to my coach, I ran so well leading into Beijing and this improvement when it counts is a credit to how we plan for the four-year cycle.

 

“This season wasn’t about running great times so this is such a fantastic bonus, domestic events this year were just about building for London.

 

“The plan is to get into the camp in Europe early, and I want to win gold at theGames, simple as that”

 

O’Hanlon is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist, and at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships he won four medals including two gold.  

 

Pearson, meanwhile, opened her season in resounding fashion by dominating the women’s 100m to win in 11.25 (w: +0.1), 0.2 second faster than her first 100m eventlast year. She was joined on the podium by Melissa Breen (ACT, second, 11.51) and Jessica Knox (NSW, third, 11.66).

 

The IAAF World Athlete of the Year and 100m hurdles world champion, Pearson is confident in the strength of her body and keen to continue her strong domestic form across the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour.

 

Pearson said: “That was really, really good, it’s a sign that what I did last year worked as I am already undertaking a similar plan and the results are starting to come.

 

“I know that I need to listen to my body to keep it healthy and I know that this year is about bringing home an Olympic gold medal, even if it’s in 13 seconds.

 

“After the world championships I was in perfect shape and that has carried over. I got straight back into it and am ready to go, this time underlines that more for me.”

 

Earlier in the evening for the women’s 4x100m relay, Pearson led teammates Breen, Charlotte Van Veenendaal (QLD) and Hayley Butler (NSW) to a comfortable victory ahead of Australia Junior (45.52) and Australia ‘B’ (45.62) in 44.01.

 

Pearson added: “We are still sitting in the top-16 but it would have been nice to sure up a place in the top ten tonight.

 

“I think I ran well, it’s tough to find speed without anyone to chase but the changes were smooth and now we just need to find that speed and confirm ournomination for the Olympic team through some solid running most likely in Europe.”

 

In other relay results, Aaron Rouge-Serret (VIC), Liam Gander (NSW), Anthony Alozie (VIC) and Mitchell Williams-Swain (QLD) combined to win the men’s 4x100m relay in 39.66.

 

The men’s 4x400m relay team of Sean Wroe (VIC), Brendan Cole (ACT), Ben Offereins (WA) and Kevin Moore (NSW) clocked 3:05.84 to take line honours, while Pirrenee Steinert (NSW), Jana Pittman (VIC), Lauren Boden (ACT) and Caitlin Sargent (QLD) flew the flag in the women’s 4x400m to stop the clock at 3:34.12.

 

Pittman and Boden also did battle across 300m, with Boden first to cross in 38.20. Pittman was second in 39.02.

 

Over in the high jump, Brandon Starc (NSW) showed why he is a Youth Olympic medallist by soaring 2.18m, an IAAF world junior championships qualifier, to win the men’s high jump ahead of Australian Flame Liam Zamel-Paez (SA, second, 2.15m).

 

Starc opened his account with 1.99m before first attempt clearances at 2.04m and 2.09m. Third-time lucky success at 2.15m and 2.18m ensured the win, before narrowly missing what would have been a 2.21m personal best jump.

 

Starc said: “That was a surprising result, with a field that small I didn’t get much of a break to recover so to continue the form was great.

 

“2.21m would have been a PB and it’s in my sights. Tonight was about a world junior qualifier which I did and I can go away now and keep improving.”

 

Elsewhere at the Brisbane Track Classic:

-       Stephanie Schweitzer (NSW) won the women’s ambulant 100m in 13.20 (w: +0.5), while the men’s event was won by Alberto Campbell (QLD) in 11.98 (w: -1.6)

-       New South Welshman James Gurr ran a solo final lap in the men’s 800m to cross the line in 1:47.31, almost half the straight in front of his nearest rival.

-       Aaron Rouge-Serret (VIC) won the men’s 100m in a time of 10.34 (w: +0.6). The time was 0.2 seconds faster than his opening event in 2011.

-       Australian Flame Henry Frayne (QLD) leapt 7.91m (0.0) to win the men’s long jump. His performance is a mere eight centimetres shy of his personal best.

-       Josh Lumley (NSW) soared 15.86m (w: +2.3) to win the men’s triple jump ahead of Adam Rabone (VIC, second, 15.34m) and Callan Rauchfuss (VIC, third, 15.21m)

 

The 2012 National Athletics Series now moves to Newcastle, with the Hunter Track Classic to be held next Saturday, January 21.

 

The Qantas Australian Athletics Tour begins in Adelaide on Saturday, January 28, with more information available here.

 

To view and download results from the Brisbane Track Classic, please click here.