McCracken ready for 100m

Following an onslaught of medals yesterday in New Delhi, the Australian Para-athletics team is primed for another day of World Championships action where middle-distance maestro Jaryd Clifford and wheelchair racer Rheed McCracken lead the charge for the podium.

Clifford (VIC, T12) will return to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for a second final after snatching bronze in the 1500m T13 yesterday in a tactical race, doubling back for today’s 5000m T13 where he will meet many of the same contenders.

The vision impaired runner who has developed a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve will leave nothing to chance in the 12.5 lap battle, as he builds slowly but surely towards his dream of winning gold at the LA 2028 Paralympic Games.

“I can’t complain too much about three races in three days, but it’s hot out here and it’s going to be a war of attrition. The toughest athlete might win, so I really just have to try not to be soft,” Clifford said.

“I’ve consistently been one of the fastest on paper at the end of the year, but it doesn’t really matter what’s on paper. It’s about what happens on the day.”

McCracken (NSW, T34) roared to 400m T34 silver on day three of competition to warm up the engine today’s 100m T34, which he considers his main event on the program as the highest stakes contest available to him in New Delhi.

Setting a new Australian record of 14.63-seconds in Switzerland earlier this year, the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder is ranked third in field behind Tunisia’s Walid Ktila and Thailand’s Chaiwat Rattana – hoping to place his rivals under pressure with a fast start.

“We have worked so hard over the last year since Paris, we really got stuck in. It’s shown through this year’s racing in the 100m that my start has been good, so we will see what happens,” McCracken said.

Former world champion Corey Anderson (QLD, F38) will let loose in the Javelin Throw F38 as he looks to replicate his 2019 heroics when winning the world title and setting a new world record of 58.18m at the championships – also finishing fourth at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe and sixth at the 2024 Paralympic Games.

Rising star Ullrich Muller (QLD, T38) will take on the gruelling 400m T38 final after demolishing his personal best with a time of 51.21 in the heats, securing automatic qualification with third place.

The 19-year-old has a love-hate relationship with one of the sport’s toughest events, but the results speak for themself:

“I hate to say it, but I think the four [400m] is my event. I know my mum and dad would love to hear that, but I hate it,” Muller joked. 

Adding to the finals action, Akeesha Snowden (SA, T37) and Niamh Mac Alasdair (WA, T37) will sprint for glory in the 100m T37 final, while 14-year-old Makayla Elcoate (QLD, T44) attacks the 100m T44 and Daniel Milone (VIC, T20) takes on the 800m T20 for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

16-year-old wheelchair racer Coco Espie (NSW, T34) will also line up for her second event with the 100m T34. 

In the first-round affairs, a trio of Australians will look to book their ticket to the 200m T38 final led by the experience of Rhiannon Clarke (WA, T38), who is joined by the First Nation duo of Briseis Brittain (NT, T38) and Layla Sharp (NSW, T38) – both making their global debuts at 17-years-old.

The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships are being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India from September 27 – October 5.

Australian viewers can tune in live and free via the Paralympic Games YouTube channel from 1:30pm AEST.