Rawlinson gets second hurdles title for Australia

By John Bagratuni Aug 30, 2007, 18:07 GMT

Osaka, Japan - Australian supermum Jana Rawlinson got her second 400 metres hurdles world title on Thursday when she outlasted Russian world record and title holder Yuliya Pechonkina.

Rawlinson, who won her first title under her maiden name Pittman in 2003, entered the home stretch in first place to prevail in a 2007 world leading 53.31 seconds.

Pechonkina tried in vain to avoid her first season defeat and had to settle for second, just as in 2001, in 53.50 seconds, with Anna Jesien taking bronze for Poland in 53.92 seconds.

Rawlinson was the youngest champion in the discipline at age 20 in 2003. She missed the 2005 worlds, married former British hurdler Chris Rawlinson, her coach, and gave birth to son Cornelis last year.

'Today's victory is sensational. There is some truth about them saying that mummies come back strong - as a mummy you can do anything - there was three of us in the final today,' said Rawlinson.

Pechonkina said: 'There was a chance to catch her at the last hurdle but my muscles were heavy.'

Set for later Thursday was the men's 200m final where the 100m champion Tyson Gay was expected to complete only the third sprint double at now 11 worlds. The men's long jump was also on the agenda.

German Betty Heidler got her first big hammer throw title by edging out the 2001 and 2003 champion Yipsi Moreno.

Heidler, who finished fourth at the 2004 Olympics, managed 74.76m in her second attempt. Moreno almost stole victory on her last try of 74.74m, but had to settle for second like at the 2004 Olympics and 2005 worlds.

'After Yipsi's last throw I thought for a tiny moment 'Oh, I am only second now.' But then, with the official result, I was relieved,' said Heidler.

Asian champion Wenxiu Zhang got China's first medal of the championships, a bronze thanks to a throw of 74.39m.

A gold looms on Friday after the nation's superstar, the 110m hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion Liu Xiang, handily advanced with 13.25 seconds.

American Terrence Trammell, seeking his first big title after silvers at the last two Olympics and 203 worlds, also progressed, while defending champ Ladji Doucoure crashed out.

Rashid Ramzi of Bahrain qualified for the 800m semis the day after being beaten for 1,500m gold by American Bernard Lagat. Ramzi won the 800m and 1,500m in 2005.

Lagat was back out on the track as well, but in the 5,000m heats where he advanced to the final. The Kenyan world champion from 2003, Eliud Kipchoge, led the way.