After recently signalling a return to form, Australia’s World and Olympic Sprint hurdles champion Sally Pearson is eager to test her mettle against some of the world’s finest athletes.

The decorated athlete arrived in the island yesterday to feature at the second JN Racers Grand Prix dubbed ‘Salute to a Legend’ in honour of Usain Bolt on Saturday.Pearson will be using the meet to improve her craft, as she continues her rebuilding phase, after being sidelined for almost two years due to plaguing injuries.She recently made a bold return with a 12.74s, followed by a wind-aided 12.53-second clocking at the national titles in Sydney and despite the illegal wind, it was the fastest she has gone in almost four years.On the backs of those dazzling performances, Pearson is anticipating a good showing at the Grand Prix on this her first visit to the island.The 30-year-old Pearson, who has a personal best of 12.28s, which is the fourth fastest time in history, pointed out that she is looking forward to an electrifying atmosphere at the National Stadium, as Bolt competes on local soil for the final time.“I’m just coming with my eyes open and see what Jamaica has to offer. I’ve always wanted to come here, so I think it’s going to be very interesting,” she told the

Jamaica Observer shortly after arriving at the Norman Manley International Airport accompanied by manager Robert Joske yesterday.She continued: “I’ve heard that the people are really amazing and obviously I’m looking forward to the competition because that’s what I’m here for. I’ve been told that the people love athletics and they get right behind us and give that kind of support, so I am really looking forward to that atmosphere and also to really enjoy it.“It (Racers Grand Prix) is just fantastic; I love racing with the world’s best athletes around me because it gives you that sort of adrenaline rush, but more importantly, I’m looking forward to the crowd. I’ve heard so many great things and I am so excited and it’s already a packed stadium, so for me I strive on that excitement and adrenaline,” Pearson added.The smooth striding hurdler, who won the title at the London Olympics in 2012 and silver at the Moscow World Championships in 2013, will contest the 100m obstacle event alongside Jamaica’s own world champion Danielle Williams and American Nia Ali, among others.“I raced against quite a few of them in Boston, so I got a taste of the world-class hurdling; I didn’t perform to what I think is my best, but I think coming in here it will be exciting just to have another chance.“And for me, as I said, it’s just about rebuilding and racing as much as I can because of how much I have missed out on and I guess it’s really good practice and I look forward to be competing against the best in the world,” Pearson noted.The 2011 world champion, along with South African Wayde Van Niekerk, Englishman Mo Farah and David Rudisha of Kenya headline the all-star cast paying homage to triple world and Olympic champion Bolt.In looking forward to the farewell moment, Pearson believes the phenomenal athlete will go out in true Usain Bolt fashion.“I think it will be just a huge party seeing how Usain celebrates, so I guess it will be more of a party farewell. It probably will be emotional for him when he is back around his support crew, but he loves putting on a great show for people, so I think what we are going to see is something really special and a huge celebration afterwards.“He has changed our sport and I think it is something really special that a sport can have someone like that who can demand so much attention and bring the people to our sport again. So he most definitely will be missed,” she stated.Meanwhile, Yohan Blake, who also arrived in the island yesterday from competition in Boston, is also anticipating a grand staging this weekend.“I am really looking forward to the meet this weekend,” he said before departing in a waiting vehicle.