Hurdler Pearson confident ahead of Oslo meet

Australia's world hurdles champion Sally Pearson won both her signature events in Brisbane Saturday before she leaves for major lead up events to next month's London Olympics. Pearson, who claimed the world title in Daegu last year and was named the 2011 women's athlete of the year, won the 100m hurdles in 12.74 seconds and the 100m in 11.31secs. Pearson took particular interest in American Olympic champion Dawn Harper's winning time of 12.66secs in the 100 m hurdles at Thursday's Diamond League meet in Rome, which was outside Pearson's 12.28secs personal best. "A bit quicker in the hurdles (Saturday) would have been nice," Pearson said. "I was pushing for a time similar to what they ran in Rome, but the conditions weren't ideal today and we're talking about a small meet in Brisbane rather than a big stage like that. "Today's times are almost the same as what I ran before heading over for world champs last year so on the whole I am pretty happy." Pearson is about to depart for Oslo to compete in the women's 100m hurdles at the Diamond League next Thursday. She said she will arrive in Europe confident in her training to date and what lies on the road ahead before her bid to win gold in London in early August. "I'm leaving on Monday to get ready to race on Thursday and I just can't wait to get over there," she said. "It's going to be a smashing field in Oslo. So many of the girls are running because it provides a chance to run heats and then a final. It will be really exciting." Pearson claimed Australia's only gold medal at the world championships in South Korea last year with a new championship record of 12.28secs -- the fourth-fastest time ever run in the 100m hurdles.