Pearson’s quest for London glory starts in Oslo

The IAAF’s female “Athlete of the Year” for 2011 will start her European campaign at the ExxonMobil Bislett Games in Oslo. Pearson was nothing short of sensational in 2011, highlighted by an emphatic win at the World Championships in Daegu, Korea. Her winning time of 12.28 for the 100m hurdles was the fourth fastest time ever recorded for the event and has earmarked the 2008 Olympic silver medallist as a clear favourite for the event at the London Olympics later this year.

Pearson has already been very active in 2012, establishing a world leading time in the 100m hurdles of 12.49 at the World Athletic Challenge meeting in Melbourne in early March and then easily winning the 60m hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul. The Samsung Diamond League meeting in Oslo will be Pearson’s first major race since her victory in Turkey.

highly talented field has been assembled at the Bislett stadium who will all look to chal-lenge Pearson’s no. 1 ranking in the event: Two time World Indoor Champion Lolo Jones (USA), World Championships silver medalist Danielle Carruthers (USA) and British record-holder Tiffany Porter . It is worth noting that Carruthers and Porter both established new per-sonal bests at the Championships in Daegu last season (won by Pearson).

Also rising to the challenge will be Norway’s Christina Vukicevic. The 24 year old from Ski established a new Norwegian record of 12.79 at Bislett last year before injury curtailed her 2011 season. Reports from Oslo indicate that technically outstanding Vukicevic is now injury free , is training superbly and is looking to take her career to the next level. Even with the World Champion present and a star studded field at the starting blocks, many of the passionate spectators at Bislett stadium will only have eyes for Norway’s favourite sportswoman – Christina Vukicevic!