Pittman eases to women's 400m hurdles gold

MELBOURNE, Mar 23 (Reuters) Australia's Jana Pittman won the women's 400 metres hurdles final at the Commonwealth Games today.

The 24-year-old former world champion sped around the Melbourne Cricket Ground track in 53.82 seconds to successfully defend the title she won in Manchester four years ago.

Natasha Danvers Smith of England finished second in 55.17 while Scotland's Lee McConnell was third in 55.25 but neither could catch Pittman, who was roared home by a packed stadium of about 83,000 spectators.

Pittman won the world title in 2003 but missed out on a medal at the Olympics a year later after she injured her knee three weeks before the Athens Games.

She was also troubled by a hamstring strain in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games but dispelled any fears about the injury with an emotional win in her home town.

REUTERS PDS PM1646