World and Olympic Champion Sally Pearson could use the happy memories of her triumph in the London Olympic Stadium to inspire her to get her world championship defence up to speed in the opening stanza of the two day London Diamond League meeting, tonight.
Pearson could only manage fifth place at last weekend’s meeting in Monte Carlo in a time of 12.75. The race was won by Queen Harrison of the US in 12.64.
The race had been billed as the first showdown between Pearson and the new American sensation Briana Rollins. The American collegiate and national champion chose not to run, perhaps keeping her powder dry for Moscow.
Pearson has been building her fitness and speed since she injured her hamstring in March.
Although her recovery has been steady and consistent since then, time may by her biggest hurdle to being able to defend her world crown.
With the 14th IAAF championships starting in just two weeks she may be just shy of her peak by then.
Fellow Australian, 2009 world discus champion Danni Samuels will hope to put some consistent throws on the board in London as she too hones her taper for Moscow.
Along with javelin throwers Kim Mickle and Kathryn Mitchell, the trio will be the only realistic medal chances for Australia in the field in Moscow following the withdrawal of Olympic silver medallist Mitchell Watt in the long jump.
With the athletics world rocked by yet another drug scandal, this time involving world champion Tyson Gay and Olympic gold medallists Asafa Powell and Sherone Stewart, the IAAF will be keen to get the media focus media back on the right track in London leading into Moscow in two weeks’ time.
In the wake of the recent positive tests, the IAAF put out a statement yesterday stating that blood testing in Moscow will be in support of the Athlete Biological Passport programme.
As per the testing at the last world championships in Daegu, Korea the process will cover all disciplines and a wide range of biomarkers.
The blood tests will not only test for markers that indicate the presence of EPO or blood doping methods used by endurance athletes events but also the markers indicating steroid and growth hormone favoured by the strength and speed competitors.
The blood testing program in Moscow will be in addition to urine samples taken at every world championships.
The samples in Moscow will be kept for long-term storage for retesting at a later time as new technology develops.
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