Olympic 100m hurdles champ Sally Pearson crashes out in Rome

Rome: Australian Olympic champion Sally Pearson suffered an early season setback after crashing out of the women`s 100m hurdles with an apparent hand injury at the Rome leg of the Diamond League on Thursday.

Pearson, who won gold at the London Olympics in 2012, had gone halfway through the race before touching a hurdle and crashing to the ground where she was left clutching her hand and wrist, and in apparent pain.

Sharika Nelvis of the United States took the win in a personal best of 12.52sec to go top of the Diamond Race with compatriot Dawn Harper-Nelson, a silver medallist at the London Games, second in a season`s best of 12.59sec.

Britain`s Tiffany Porter held on for third place under pressure from Belarusian Alina Talay.

American world champion Brianna Rollins, who won in Rome last year to end Harper-Nelson`s four-year domination at the meet, failed to finish having also crashed out.

Her compatriot Jasmin Stowers, who set a world leading time of 12.35sec in Doha last month, finished in 25.21sec.