Perri's perfect timing
Personal best for Brit hopeful on eve of Olympics
Last Updated: July 16, 2012 3:46pm
Perri Shakes-Drayton: a good day at the office
Britain's Perri Shakes-Drayton stormed to a surprise victory in the 400 metres hurdles in the Aviva London Grand Prix at Crystal Palace.
The Londoner held off a world class field to win in 53.77 seconds.
Former Olympic champion Sally Gunnell is the only British athlete to have run faster and Shakes-Drayton's time was also joint second fastest in the world this year, taking 0.41s off her personal best set when winning European bronze in Barcelona two years ago.
The 23-year-old, who had been ranked just 21st in the world in 2012 before the race, said: ""I'm obviously very pleased with the race as it all went to plan. I saw today as my opportunity to be to test myself against the best girls and realised I had to be aggressive in order to succeed so it's great to get the win and a PB in the process.
"I had a very good day at the office. It definitely gives me confidence but I'm not going to get carried away, I never do, I've just got to keep going as I have been going with my coach and once I'm at the Games, I'm going to try and do the best I can."
