Jana Pittman delighted the MCG crowd with victory for Australia in the women's 400m hurdles on Thursday.

The red-hot favourite was never in trouble as she surged to victory in 53.82 seconds.

England's Natasha Danvers-Smith took silver but was some way back in 55.17.

Lee McConnell of Scotland, a recent convert to the event from the flat, pipped England's Nicola Sanders to bronze.

McConnell's time of 55.25 was a new personal best, as was the 55.32 of Sanders.

Danvers-Smith reached the Olympic final in Sydney in 2000, but took time out from the sport in 2004 when her son Jaden was born.

"They said it couldn't be done but it can be," the 28-year-old from London said. "Everybody said you couldn't come back from having a baby and win medals.

"A lot of people said I was 28 years old, I was washed up, the end, goodbye Danvers. It's been a long hard road, this is just the beginning of the next phase."

Third in Manchester four years ago before falling at the final hurdle, Danvers-Smith added: "I'm pretty pleased. It makes up for Manchester, anything makes up for falling.

"I thought I could win it. Hype is hype (surrounding Pittman) but everything has got to happen once that gun goes off. I thought I could win no matter what but I'm happy I got a medal."