Tiffany Porter beats Pearson in CWG warning

Great Britain’s Tiffany Porter (centre) wins the Women’s 100 metres Final during the London Anniversary Games at Horse Guards Parade in London on Sunday.

AFP/London

Britain’s Tiffany Porter stunned Australia’s Olympic 100m hurdles champion Sally Pearson at the Anniversary Games on Sunday in a timely warning ahead of their Commonwealth Games duel.

The US-born Porter won the race, which was staged at London’s Horse Guards Parade, in 12.71sec despite Pearson enjoying the better start.

American Brianna Rollins, the world champion, was second, with Pearson clocking 12.79 back in third.

Porter said: “I am really excited to come away with the win.

“It’s a confidence boost and things seem to be clicking at the right time, so hopefully I can go out and do my very best at the Commonwealths.

“You can’t ever count Sally out, she’s a great competitor, but I am going into it hoping to go away with the gold, We don’t train for second place.”

In the men’s 100m, Michael Rodgers of the US won in 9.91sec with 2003 world champion Kim Collins, now 38, taking second place while Jamaica’s Nesta Carter was third.

Allyson Felix of the US defeated double Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce of Jamaica in the women’s 100m at the meeting held to celebrate the second anniversary of the 2012 London Olympics.

Polevault world record holder Renaud Lavillenie of France took victory in 5.70m ahead of British duo, Luke Cutts and Steve Lewis.

The 2014 Sainsbury Anniversary Games were a rousing success, with the predicted bad weather conditions not bothering the athletes or spectators all that much on Sunday.

Held at the iconic Horse Guards Parade and The Mall in the heart of London, the Anniversary Games are one of the most anticipated street meets of the athletic calendar. Belgian athlete Thomas van der Plaetsen thought the concept was truly amazing and can only do wonders for the sport,

“These London anniversary games are awesome! Taking track and field into the city might really be a key to up the popularity of the sport.”

Hundreds of the world’s best athletes and para-athletes, including local favourite David Weir, gathered on Sunday to make sure the crowd was treated to a sporting spectacle, and they didn’t disappoint.