Olympic silver medallist Sally Pearson and three-time Commonwealth champion Tamsyn Lewis are one step closer to creating history after both won gold at the Australian Athletics Championships & Selection Trials on Saturday. 

Chasing a rare treble of individual national crowns (100m, 200m and 100m hurdles), Pearson (QLD) stopped the clock at 11.38 (w: -0.6) in chilly conditions. Melissa Breen (AIS, 11.67), the 2010 national champion, and fellow Queenslander Charlotte Van Veenendaal (11.67) headed home with the silver and bronze medal respectively. 

“One down, and a Melbourne PB I think so it’s a good start before another big day tomorrow,” Pearson said.

 “The conditions here are very similar to what I face in Europe so I can’t think they are bad, I need to learn to put my head down and run and that’s what I am hoping to get out of this weekend. 

In the men’s 100m, Aaron Rouge-Serret (VIS) added a second national crown to his 2010 win by taking line honours in a time of 10.39 (w: -0.6) ahead of Anthony Alozie (NSW, 10.58) and Isaac Ntiamoah (NSWIS, 10.63). 

Lewis’ win in a season best time of 2:00.80 takes her national crown career total to 16 and victory in Sunday’s 400m final, an event for which she has qualified fastest (53.19), will make her the second most successful Australian female athlete in history. 

Joined on the podium by Kelly Hetherington (VIC, 2:03.58) and Sianne Toemoe (NSWIS, 2:03.59), Lewis is confident that her form in the two-lap event can carry through to this year’s IAAF world championships and the 2012 London Olympics. 

“Tonight shows that despite having a lot of racing this weekend I am capable of both the 400m and 800m,” Lewis said. 

“National titles mean a lot to me and I think missing out last year has really pushed me. 

“I’ll head into another solid winter and know that I am capable of making a serious play for London.” 

AlIS scholarship holders Brendan Cole (50.46) and Lauren Boden (57.47) won their firth national titles in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles respectively. 

Ben Offereins (WAIS, 46.75) and Steven Solomon (NSW, 46.89) took victory in the men’s 400m semi-finals, the duo joining Sean Wroe (VIS, 46.99) and John Steffensen (NSWIS, 46.97) in Sunday’s final. 

Meanwhile in the field, Australian record holder Benn Harradine dominated the men’s discus throw to book his ticket to the IAAF world championships this August. 

Taking to the thrower’s cage with two qualifiers, Benn’s national crown with a 63.15m throw ensures automatic selection to the 2011 Australian Flame team and ensures ample preparation time for yet another medal assault. 

“I’m so happy to have confirmed that spot for Daegu, but to be honest I would have liked to have seen something a little bigger tonight as a farewell for Olympic Park,” Harradine said. 

“I am feeling as strong as ever and now will start winding up for the business end of the European season before world champs. 

“I’m out to show the big names overseas that I am biting at their heels.” 

Fellow Commonwealth Games medallist Kim Mickle (WAIS) won the women’s javelin throw after a fourth round 59.39m throw.  

Joined on the podium by Kathryn Mitchell (VIC, 57.22m) and Laura Cornford (NSWIS, 57.00m), Mickle threw 63.28m at the Sydney Track Classic to etch one qualifier next to her name and now faces an anxious wait for discretionary selection. 

In other field highlights Adam Rabone (VIC, 15.67m) won his first men’s triple jump crown ahead of Ben King (VIC, 15.31m) and Josh Lumley (QLD, 15.26m) and Russian athlete Sergey Kucheryanu cleared 5.40m to win the men’s pole vault, with Joel Pocklington (VIC, 5.10m) the Australian champion after placing second overall.  

Competition concludes at Melbourne Olympic Park on Sunday with the finals of the 200m, 400m, 1500m and sprint hurdles the highlights on track. Mitchell Watt, Robbie Crowther and Fabrice Lapierre headline the field action in the men’s long jump whilst Dani Samuels takes to the throwers cage for the women’s discus throw.

 Athletics Australia