Medal haul at World Para Athletics Championships

The Australian Para Athletics team has cemented itself as a world leader on the track and field, after scooping up another three medals on the final day of the World Para Athletics Championships in London.

Australia will return home with a medal haul of 11 gold, nine silver and eight bronze, but it was the spectacular performances of NSW Institute of Sport athletes James Turner, Angie Ballard and Madison de Rozario that impressed the most on day ten of competition. Earlier in the week Evan O’Hanlon claimed an excellent victory on the running track in a photo finish, whilst Erin Cleaver jumped to silver.

21-year-old James Turner’s speed prevailed again as he won his third gold medal of the 2017 World Para-Athletics Championships – this time in the 800m T36. Having pushed his body to its limits after claiming the 400m title, there were questions as to whether Turner would race in this event. But his determined character and pure passion for competing saw him push through to win his third gold.

On the final day of competition, Angie Ballard has proved she’s still one of Australia’s strongest wheelchair athletes as she powered through the 100m T53 final to win silver in 16.84s (-1.3).

Up in the medals for the same 800m event was fellow NSWIS athlete Madison de Rozario who after proving she is the queen over 5000m, aced her main event to bring home silver.

Australia’s fastest Paralympian Evan O’Hanlon overcame his bitter disappointment in Rio, regaining his crown as the world’s fastest athlete with cerebral palsy. O’Hanlon, who had famously remained undefeated in the 100m T38 until the Rio Paralympic Games, reclaimed the number one spot crossing the line in 11.07s (-1.6), ahead of China’s Jianwen Hu, who clocked in just millimetres behind.

But that was not it for Australia’s success. On day four of competition Erin Cleaver soared in the long jump T38, with a jump of 4.61m (+0.1) to win silver – the Novocastrian’s best international result yet, and first major medal in the event.

On day eight, wheelchair racer Rheed McCracken had a strong start in the 200m T34, finishing so close to silver that his bronze medal result came down to another photo-decider. McCracken finished in 27.81 (-1.5) behind the UAE’s Mohamed Alhammadi and four-time world champion Walid Ktila from Tunisia (27.14).

Kurt Fearnley wrapped up his London 2017 campaign with a tough-as-nails race in the 5000m T54, finishing in sixth place.

NSWIS Results – World Para Athletics Championships 2017