Jamaica's Nickiesha Wilson (centre) trails Australia's Jana Rawlinson (right) and Russia's Yuliya Pechenkina (left) heading into the straight of the women's 400 metres hurdles final yesterday. Rawlinson won the gold while Wilson finished fourth and just missed out on the bronze. - Reuters

OSAKA, Japan (Reuters):

JANA RAWLINSON stormed to victory in the women's 400 metres hurdles yesterday to become only the second Australian to win two world titles.

The 24-year-old outpaced defending champion Yuliya Nosova over the last 200m to reclaim the title she won under her maiden name Pittman in 2003 in a season's best 54.31 seconds.

Rawlinson, who gave birth to a son just last December, joined compatriot Cathy Freeman, the 1997 and 1999 400m gold medallist, as a twice world champion.

She also became the second woman to win the one-lap hurdle title twice after Morocco's 1997 and 2001 champion Nezha Bidouane.

"Tonight's victory is sensational," Rawlinson said. "It has only been eight months since the birth of my son. I've only been in training three or four months.

"It's been a rocky road ... but if we can climb this mountain, this early, then anything is possible."

Nosova, also attempting to match Bidouane, set the early pace butcould not stay with Rawlinson after the bend at the end of the back straight.

The Russian looked like she might catch Rawlinson when she hesitated before the final hurdle, but the Australian cleared it with ease and strode to victory with Nosova second in 53.50.

"She's a great runner and I love to compete against her," said Rawlinson. "Tonight, I was simply the stronger hurdle I have to admit I changed down too early."

The 29-year-old Nosova, who won the 2005 title as Yuliya Pechonkina but has since reverted to her maiden name, also won silver at the 2001 worlds and bronze in 2003.

"There was a chance to catch her after the last hurdle but my muscles were too heavy," she said. "I still hope to compete for many years, the revenge could come at the Olympics."

A superb finish from Poland's Anna Jesien, who finished fourth two years ago, helped her to her country's second bronze of the championships ahead of Jamaica's Nickiesha Wilson in 53.92.

"I'm in a big competition and this is my last chance so I pushed very hard to the end," said the 29-year-old Pole. "I broke my national record in the semi-final but when people talk to you, they first ask 'do you have a medal?' "