Another meet, another packed program for workaholic Sally Pearson.
After snaring a rare treble in the 100m, 200m and 100m hurdles at the 2011 Australian athletics championships, the reigning IAAF female athlete of the year has entered the same three events at the March 2-3 Olympic trials in Melbourne.
The 100m hurdles at the new Lakeside Stadium should be a stroll in the park for the short-priced London Games favourite, who has already booked her spot on the Olympic team.
But the late inclusion of American Yvette Lewis should at least ensure someone will be chasing Pearson to the line in her pet event.
Even though it’s early in the season, Pearson believes she’s in shape to run a time somewhere around 12.5 seconds, a sobering thought for the Americans hoping to knock her off her perch in London later this year.
Pearson’s aim for the 200m in Melbourne is to dip under 23 seconds for the first time.
And she hasn’t ruled out giving Melinda Gainsford-Taylor’s longstanding national record of 11.12 in the 100m a shake either if conditions are favourable.
The way Pearson sees it, spending so much time competing this weekend means less hours on the training track ahead of the March 9-11 world indoor championships in Istanbul, where she will be having a rare tilt at the 60m hurdles.
As a renowned fast starter, Pearson reckons a time somewhere in the region of 7.70 should be attainable in Turkey.
To put that into perspective, Sweden’s Susanna Kallur’s world record set in 2008 stands at 7.68.
But right now, just about anything seems achievable for the remarkable Pearson, whose winning time of 12.28 in the 100m hurdles at last year’s outdoor world championships in Daegu was the fastest in 20 years.
Even though her career still has many years to run, Pearson is starting to be asked about the legacy she wants to leave behind.
“It’s hard to think about that because I’m so involved in what I’m doing and a bit selfish in what I’m doing, only wanting to see the results that I can get,” she said on Thursday.
“But at the same time, I think the legacy I want to leave is being able to produce fantastic results and being known for my results on the track.
“I’ve always wanted to be known as one of the best track and field athletes ever.
“Cathy Freeman did that.
“She was obviously a fantastic athlete and, every time she stepped out on the track, she did well and that’s what I want to leave behind and be known for.”
