Two-time Doha 2015 gold medallist Isis Holt has made a statement at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Canberra by smashing her own world record in the women’s T35 cerebral palsy 200m over the weekend.
Bettering the time that she ran to win gold at the IPC Athletics World Championships late in 2015, Holt’s time of 28.38 (w: +0.2) sends a commanding message to the para-athletics community ahead of her tilt at 100m and 200m glory at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
In the 100m on Day 1 in Canberra Isis stopped the clock a mere 0.01 seconds outside her own world record for the T35 cerebral palsy class. As world champion in the event, Holt opened her 2016 domestic campaign in outstanding fashion by crossing the winning line in 13.69 (w: +0.4) in the heat before returning to clock 13.64 (w: 0.0) in the final to win.
VIS athlete Brooke Stratton has moved one step closer to an Olympic debut at Rio 2016 after bettering the qualification standard in the women’s long jump at the ACT Athletics Championships.
Stratton opened her long jump campaign with an Olympic qualifier of 6.74m in the first round before improving to 6.79m (w: +0.6) later in the competition to better her personal best as well.
The result is also bigger than the required standard for the IAAF World Indoor Championships, providing the 22 year old with yet another opportunity to don the green and gold in 2016.
Morgan Mitchell was also strong, with her 52.19 run in the women’s 400m ensuring her second qualifier for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in as many weeks.
A seven-time Paralympian, Russell Short has highlighted his impressive longevity as an athlete by winning the men’s ambulant shot put with a throw of 14.41m.
