Sally Pearson is determined not to let a disappointing finish in the 60-metre hurdles at the World Indoor Athletics Championships affect her preparation leading into the Commonwealth Games.
Pearson claimed silver in Sopot on Saturday, falling short in her bid to become only the second woman to win back-to-back titles in the 60m event.
American Nia Ali won gold with a personal best time of 7.80 seconds to knock off defending champion Pearson who came in at 7.85sec, with US-born Briton Tiffany Porter taking bronze just one-hundredth of a second off the Queenslander.
Pearson had set a season-best time of 7.79sec in her heat on Friday and also posted the best semi-final time on Saturday, but couldn't execute with the gold medal on the line.
"I stuffed up out there tonight. I am disappointed with my performance; I was in shape to win the gold but I didn't execute a good enough race to be the best out there this time around," she said.
The 27-year-old started strongly, sailing over the first four hurdles, before clipping the final barrier and losing momentum in her charge for the finish.
Pearson will now return home and is expected to compete in the short sprints at the Sydney Track Classic next Saturday, before returning to her preferred 100m hurdles at the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge the following weekend.
The London Olympic 100m hurdles gold medallist had been in excellent form before her slip-up in Poland and is focused on getting things back on track as quickly as possible ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow later this year.
"I switch back to Australian season mode now. I don't want this race to affect how I run at home because I am very much looking forward to racing again in Sydney next weekend, and then again in Melbourne and through to the Nationals," Pearson said.
"The Commonwealth Games are still a huge goal for me this year, and getting my preparation right during my home season is crucial as I missed that last year and want to take as much as I can away from it this time around before coming back to Europe."
Pearson's heat and semi-final form had her well-positioned to join American Lolo Jones by winning successive 60m hurdle indoor championship events.
"It wasn't my night, but it was Nia's and I have to congratulate her on a great performance," she said.
"She was the best athlete out there and I have said all along that it isn't about times, but instead about the athlete that can run the best race at the time and she did that."
