Silver lining for Steffensen

Australian 400m runner John Steffensen has put a bad run with injury behind him to win silver at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Lausanne on Wednesday.

Hampered by chronic hamstring problems which have plagued him since the national championships in March, 2006 Commonwealth Games 400m champion Steffensen bounced back to place second at Athletissima

Although his time of 45.54 was slow by his standards, the competitive result looks certain to give the 24-year-old confidence ahead of the World Championships in August.

African record holder Gary Kikaya from Congo secured the Lausanne victory in 45.24, however Steffensen claimed the scalps of Jamaican Sanjay Ayre (45.79) and Darold Williamson (45.84) from the United States.

It was another successful meet for the Australian contingent though, as Steffensen was joined by pole vaulters Paul Burgess and Steve Hooker.

In the men's pole vault, Burgess redeemed himself after a disappointing meet in Athens, to clear 5.75m behind American Brad Walker's winning and new meet record height of 5.91m. Hooker finished third with a leap of 5.70m.

In international results, Tyson Gay stormed to an impressive 19.78 in the 200 metres, China’s 110m hurdles star Liu Ziang posted 13.01 and Derrick Atkins notched up his fourth consecutive win clocking 10.04 in the 100m.