By Symone Goss, World-Track
MALAGA — In only her first 400m hurdles race of season Australian two-time world champion Jana Rawlinson returned to competition with boosting victory, after fighting off what she described as "the strongest winds I’ve ever raced in."
Rawlinson, who has been sidelined by injures for over a year won her specialty in 55.67seconds at a meeting in Malaga, Span.
And while the time was nothing quest special, she was happy to open with a winning start.
"Today was a good start," she said. "I’ve just got to get some speed endurance in my legs because I’m just not quick enough.
"I didn’t die at all today but I just didn’t run as quick as I would have hoped."
Ukraine’s Olympic finalist Anastasiya Rabchenyuk ran home second finished second in 56.72 with Janet Wienand of South Africa taking third in 57.71.
"I really did think that (Rabchenyuk) would give me a run for my money," a tired Rawlinson said.
"I didn’t know what time I’d run and considering she’s run middle 54s for the last couple of races, I thought if I make an error here I’m going to lose.
"So to come off with a win, I’m never going to be disappointed with that."
Rawlinson, who earlier this year switched coaches to Craig Hilliard after splitting from her husband and former coach Chris, will race again in Lausanne on July 7, as she continues her comeback to defend her world title in Berlin in August.
In the men’s triple jump Great Britain’s Phillips Idowu outclassed his competition, including Olympic champion and world leader Nelson Evora of Portugal to win the event.
Idowu leaped 17.06m for the victory, to win over Evora, who could only managed a mark of 16.49m. Another British jumper, Nathan Douglas was third with 16.47.
Elsewhere, Kenya’s Nicholas Kemboi posted 3:35.47 to win the men’s 1500m in a season’s best, beating Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin, who finished second in 3:35.75.
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