Pearson wins as Ennis-Hill tests injury

Tiffany Porter of Great Britain (left) Sally Pearson of Australia (centre) and Kellie Wells of the US compete in the womens 100 metres hurdles event during the London Anniversary Games International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League International Athletics championships at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2013. Pearson posted her best time of the season. (AFP)

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Jessica Ennis-Hill (right) of Great Britain takes the lead against Nadine Hilderbrand of Germany in the womens 100 metres hurdles event during the London Anniversary Games International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League International Athletics championships at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2013. (AFP/File)

Christine Ohurogu of Great Britain smiles after winning in the womens 400 metres event during the London Anniversary Games International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League International Athletics championships at the Olympic Stadium in London on July 27, 2013. (AFP)

LONDON (AFP) – Australia's Sally Pearson posted her best time of the season as she returned to the scene of her Olympic gold medal triumph and ran to victory in the women's 100 metres hurdles at the London Diamond League meeting on Saturday.

Olympic and world champion Pearson crossed the line first in a time of 12.65 seconds just ahead of Britain's Tiffany Porter in an encouraging performance ahead of next month's world championships in Moscow.

"Everyone told me to be patient and believe in myself and that's what I've done," said Pearson after a victorious return to London's Olympic Stadium in what is being billed as the Anniversary Games.

"I haven't shied away and I've come here and worked hard every single competition.

"I'm Olympic and world champion and I'm still showing up and getting defeated but here I am today (Saturday) and being patient and waiting for my turn and it came out my way."

Meanwhile the same race saw Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill, also back at the scene of her greatest triumph, finish fourth in 13.08sec.

The 27-year-old Briton has been struggling to recover form the ankle injury which put back her return to action until earlier this week.

It is still touch and go whether she will be fit enough to compete in Moscow and Ennis-Hill, due to take part in the women's long jump later Saturday, said: "It is really nice to be back in the stadium a year on.

"Obviously I have really great memories from last time but it is a bit of a different situation to last time.

"It's great to be back in front of a home crowd and in the stadium."

Meanwhile Allyson Felix of the United States looked in sparkling form as she cruised to victory in London.

Felix, a triple gold medallist in London last year, was once again imperious as she raced away with the women's 200m in a time of 22.41sec.

"This was my last race before the worlds' and I felt really good and strong," said the 27-year-old Californian. It was the perfect prep for me before Moscow."

Felix added: "I love London. This feels like a second home with so many special memories here."

Britain's Christine Ohuruogu delighted the home crowd with a season's best of 50secs flat to win the women's 400m.

Ohuruogu, who grew up less than a mile away from the stadium in east London, took a silver medal last year having won Olympic gold at Beijing in 2008 and been crowned world champion a year earlier in Osaka, Japan.

"I'm exhausted but I am ready for Moscow," said the 29-year-old. "It won't be easy getting the world title back but I will give it my best."