Pearson chasing rare treble

AAP-April,15-The prospect of becoming the first person in more than 40 years to win three Australian track and field titles at the same meet has Sally Pearson all fired up.
The workaholic Queenslander got her arduous campaign off to a successful start at Melbourne's Olympic Park on Friday, claiming a dominant victory in her 100m heat in 11.69 seconds.
The semis and final will take place on Saturday, with the 200m and 100m hurdles deciders on Sunday at the meet which doubles as selection trials for the world championships in South Korea.
No Australian has achieved a treble since Pam Ryan won the 80m and 100m hurdles and pentathlon in 1968.
"The 200 had been off the agenda," said Pearson, the 100m hurdles silver medallist from the Beijing Olympics.
"But coming to Melbourne and knowing what it is like for sprinters, it's not the most exciting place to come to sprint, so we thought we might as well do three events and get something out of it.
"I thought I may as well motivate myself, I may as well do something that will excite me.
"And that's doing all three while I have the chance, because it's probably the first and only time I'll do it."
Self-styled showman John Steffensen donned an eye-catching black and white skeleton bodysuit for his 400m heat, which he won in 47.40.
Steffensen, who served a three-month ban over the summer for criticising Athletics Australia officials, declined to predict how much faster he could go in the semis and final.
"The nationals is never big in our calendar," said the 2006 Commonwealth champion.
"I just come and do what every athlete is meant to do and that's entertain the crowd, keep the sport in the spotlight.
"The average person doesn't understand what 44 seconds means, but they know what entertainment is.
"And as soon as we start thinking that way the sport will grow."
Steffensen was the second fastest qualifier behind Delhi Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sean Wroe (47.29).
Tamsyn Lewis's campaign to draw level with Ryan as the second-most decorated female athlete in the history of the Australian championships got off to a good start as she qualified fastest for the 400m and 800m finals.
Victory in both finals would lift the Victorian to 17 national titles, level with Ryan.
Only Gael Martin has more with 20 shot put and discus national crowns.
Former world junior champion Robbie Crowther led qualifiers for the men's long jump with 7.94m.
Commonwealth champ Fabrice Lapierre (7.76m) and world championships bronze medallist Mitchell Watt (7.78m) also advanced without incident to Sunday's final.