Hometown hero Sally Pearson in for long haul despite achilles issue

A WORRIED Sally Pearson says she will be able to confront whatever her Commonwealth Games fitness fate is, realising that her management of an achilles problem can only go so far.

A WORRIED Sally Pearson says she will be able to confront whatever her Commonwealth Games fitness fate is, realising that her management of an achilles problem can only go so far.

Pearson said she is now 90 per cent sure of competing in the Games 100m hurdles heats at Carrara Stadium on April 12, despite having been unable to attack a hurdles race since early March.

The headline act of the Gold Coast Games suffered an agonising broken wrist from a race fall which derailed her 2015 world titles campaign and a hamstring problem halted her 2016 Olympics bid before she coached herself to a second 100m hurdles world title last year.

“I was thinking the other day if this was my first major (with such a preparation), I’d be struggling a bit more,’’ Pearson said.

“All my big decisions have helped me to cope with this competition, even though there is more spotlight and pressure being in my home town. I’m dealing with it well and staying relaxed.

“It’s a matter of what my body wants to do on the day and that’s pretty much going to make my decision for me.’’

Pearson aims to train on Monday or Tuesday after running a convincing 100m-flat leg in an Australian relay team last Wednesday in Brisbane.

Champion Australian hurdler Sally Pearson is determined to compete at her hometown Commonwealth Games despite a nagging achilles injury. Picture: AAP

“I’d be 90 per cent (certain of racing in the hurdles). It will be an issue all the way through (to a final),’’ she said.

“I don’t think the pain will affect my performance. I’ll be able to block it out as much as possible.

Sally Pearson will be chasing a Commonwealth Games hat-trick in the women's 100m hurdles. Picture: AFP

“It’s not going to be a controlled race — it’s going to be all-out. It has to be.’’

Pearson’s manager Robert Joske said it was possible she would leave a decision on whether to compete until “the last minute’’.

Australia’s 1990 Commonwealth Games heptathlon champion Jane Flemming said Pearson, 31, had the experience to deal with the knowledge of what a leg injury can do to an elite hurdler executing at top speed.

Sally Pearson attends a press conference as the Australian athletics team continues preparations at Nudgee College in the countdown to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

“It would be playing on her mind that when she crashed into a hurdle and broke her wrist (in 2015), she had a calf injury,’’ Flemming said.

“It was a good sign she was able to run the 100m. Sally has the knowledge to call on at the Commonwealth Games.’’

While Pearson would appear well placed to at least run in the 4x100m relay, it would be a prosaic end to her championing of her home-city Games if she is not able to contest the final.

That night of athletics is the 2018 Games’ equivalent to the 400m final at the 2000 Sydney Olympics final won by Cathy Freeman.

Sally Pearson competes in London in 2017. Picture: AP

“I watched as a 13-year-old at home — I remember when she got to the 200m and I was pushing her along (the screen of) the TV),’’ Pearson said.

“It was pretty special as an emerging athlete, I looked at what she had to do to be the Olympic champion.

“I do want to be out there in the hurdles (as well as Australia’s 4x100m relay team. If the main competitors come out it’s not going to be an easy race to win.’’

Against Pearson, who has a 12.28 sec personal best, Jamaica has entered for the Games 100m hurdles three competitors with a sub-12.7 sec personal best, including 2015 world champion Danielle Williams (12.55).

“Megan Simmonds (personal best 12.67), who made the semis at the world championships last year, will be here. I haven’t seen the others so I’m not sure,’’ Pearson said.

Sally Pearson celebrates winning the final of the women's 100m hurdles at the 2017 IAAF World Championships. Picture: AFP

Originally published as Hometown hero Sally Pearson in for long haul despite achilles issue