Isis Holt has claimed back-to-back World Championship gold after crossing the line in 28.47 in the 200m T35 final in London.
Holt was on a mission to reclaim the top spot after taking silver in Rio last year.
“I still can’t believe what’s just happened, I didn’t expect to run so fast. It was a little bit of revenge for me to win again, but more than that it was really great to come back after Rio and be able to keep this title,” Holt said.
The 16-year-old will now turn her focus to the 100m as she tries to emulate her success from the 2015 World Championships, completing the sprint double.
Todd Hodgetts kick started the VIS podium placings, claiming bronze in the F20 shot put with a throw of 15.96m.
“Today was way better than Rio already. There were a few kerfuffle’s, but I came back strong in the last throw like the champion that I am,” Hodgetts said.
Nicholas Hum put together an array of jumps in excess of six metres, with his final round leap of 6.78m placing him fifth overall.
Jessee Wyatt finished sixth in the F33 seated shot put final with a throw of 8.93m.
To view results and entry lists for the World Para-Athletics Championships: http://bit.ly/2tQj9ZX
In other track and field news around the world, Kathryn Mitchell is firing on all cylinders at IAAF Diamond League meetings around the world, improving her personal best javelin throw to 66.12m in Lausanne, closing in on the national record of 66.83m set by Kim Mickle in 2014
The Colossus of Corio, Damien Birkinhead, is also edging toward the shot put national record, heaving a number of throws over 20m across Europe.
Birkinhead threw 21.20m in Madrid to claim victory, 0.06m shy of the national record, currently held by his coach and past VIS scholarship holder, Scott Martin.
Zoe Buckman has boosted her case for Australian 1500m selection for the World Championships, running 4:04.93 at the IAAF Diamond League in Rabat. Alongside Buckman, are fellow VIS scholarship holders Linden Hall and Georgia Griffith who have already qualified for the event.
Also competing in Rabat, Ryan Gregson ran a 3000m personal best of 7:42. 18 to place seventh, moving himself to sixth Australian all-time rankings.
Morgan Mitchell performed strongly in Luzern to claim her first European victory of the season, crossing the line in 52.21 over 400m.
Brooke Stratton has returned to form after a lengthy bout on the sidelines through injury. In her third competition of the year she leapt to a World Championship qualifier of 6.79m at the IAAF Diamond League in London.
Also in London, Linden Hall moved to third on the Australian all-time rankings over the mile distance, stopping the clock at 4:23.96 with a 1500m split of 4:06.53.
