The Victorian Institute of Sport was represented by eight athletes at the World-Para Athletics Championships in London, with Isis Holt bursting onto the scene once again with an incredible back-to-back title defence over the T35 100m and 200m.
Holt started her Championships off with a commanding victory in the 200m final, claiming gold in 28.47 and defending her title from the 2015 World Championships.
The 16-year-old didn’t stop with one victory, Holt again backed up her 2015 world title by winning the 100m T35 in exhilarating fashion.
In a new world record time of 13.43, Holt came from behind to win her fourth world championship title.
“All day I was really excited to come out here and give it a second shot. I really wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but to come away with gold and a world record has really put my trust back in myself and the process that we as athleteswork so hard on,” Holt said.
“I’m really lucky I’ve got an incredible support team and coach (Nick Wall) behind me in Melbourne, and I trust him. It’s all down to him and the people around me. And I know that with my trust in the process, I don’t have anything to worry about and I showed that to myself today.”
An ecstatic Jaryd Clifford couldn’t believe his goal of finishing on the podium in the T13 1500m, finally became a reality.
Clifford was in fifth place at the bell lap andshowed great maturity to remain patient in his final attack as he stormed home in 3:53.31 for the bronze medal.
WATCH the final lap here: http://bit.ly/2mz3P37
“I am so happy to have run like I did just then, that was insane. I set myself the perfect pace – not too fast, not too slow. I was comfortable,” Clifford said.
“I even told myself to be patient while I ran the race, and when I got to the last 100m, I thought ‘this is it, I really have a chance.’
“It was a massive shock when I cross the finished line. I was dreaming of it, but I don’t know if I actually ever expected it, and then I did it.”
Todd Hodgetts also secured a bronze medal in London, with a throw of 15.96m in the F20 shot put.
Hodgetts is eager to reach the success he had in 2015 with winning the world title, and won’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
“Today was way better than Rio already. There were a few kerfuffles, but I came back strong in the last throw like the champion that I am,” Hodgetts said.
“I don’t hold back and I never give up. Congratulations [To Zolkefli], but I’m working on a few techniques and strategies, so this is not the end. I’m going to continue until I’m 40.”
In other VIS results:
- Sam McIntosh was agonisingly close to a podium finish, finishing 4th in the T52 100m in 18.69, whilst also placing 6th in his T52 400m heat.
- Nicholas Hum was centimetres from the medals, placing 5th in the T20 long jump T20 with a leap of 6.78m.
- A veteran of the sport, Russell Short was a finalist in both the F12 shot put (14.29m) and discus (39.31m), placing 5th and 7th respectively.
- Brydee Moore heaved the shot put 4.40m for 5th place in the F33 category.
- Jessee Wyatt finished 7th in the F33 shot put with a throw of 8.46m.
