Aled Davies, Georgina Hermitage and Sophie Hahn claimed their second gold medals of the World Para Athletics Championships in London.
Georgie Hermitage matched her gold medal performance in Rio last year in the T37 100m. Hermitage began to build an early lead and by 80m the gap of around five metres on the Ukraine’s Kobzar, who ran a personal best for silver, meant that the result was never in doubt.
Speaking after the race, Hermitage commented: “I am relieved that it’s all over. I know that sounds like an awful thing to say but coming into this championships the preparation wasn’t ideal” she admitted, adding: “That race – I didn’t execute it well enough. The hold was very long and my start was not great. Hence the Ukrainian was on my tail but I do feel with 30m to go that I was pulling away and taking the win is enough tonight.”
Aled Davies took to the throwing circle aiming to become a triple-triple world champion on the back of gold in the F42 Discus last Sunday.
Davies took just two throws to leave his mark on the event with a throw of 17.52m, his longest ever and 12cm further than the unratified world record he achieved in April in Arizona.
An enthusiastic Davies said afterwards: “No offence to Rio, but this, for me, was bigger than Rio”.
“I told my coach at the start of the year that I wanted to throw a PB and a world record and win gold in front of the home crowd, and I did it. As soon as that second throw left my fingers I knew that I’d done it. I’ve been working so hard and I am so happy to be able to throw a world record. Everyone knows how hard I’ve worked.”
Adding to her T38 200m gold last week, Sophie Hahn achieved the double with victory in the T38 100m – and in the same race, Kadeena Cox came home with silver.
Hahn, now a two-time world champion, said: “When I crossed the line today I glanced across at the clock and when I saw 12.4 I thought it was pretty amazing. It’s incredible here, it’s a great stadium and a fast track and it really helps you.”
Cox was also delighted with the result, saying: “I knew that Sophie was the favourite for the gold and I wanted to get the 1-2-3 of gold, silver and bronze here and I did it. I just tried to just keep working. I could feel the German girl and (fellow Brit) Olivia (Breen) coming through and I thought ‘no, that’s not happening’. I am really happy that I could finish it off.”
British Athletics medallists (35) at the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017:
Gold (14):
Hollie Arnold – F46 Javelin
Olivia Breen – T38 Long Jump
Hannah Cockroft – T34 100m, 400m, 800m
Kadeena Cox – T38 400m
Aled Davies – F42 Discus, Shot Put
Sophie Hahn – T38 100m, 200m
Georgie Hermitage – T37 100m, 400m
Sophie Kamlish – T44 100m
Sammi Kinghorn – T53 200m
Jonnie Peacock – T44 100m
Stef Reid – T44 Long Jump
Richard Whitehead – T42 200m
Silver (4):
Kare Adenegan – T34 100m
Jonathan Broom-Edwards – T44 High Jump
Kadeena Cox – T38 100m
Kyron Duke – F41 Shot
Toby Gold – T33 100m
Bronze (13):
Kare Adenegan – T34 400m, 800m
Richard Chiassaro – T54 400m
Kadeena Cox – T38 200m
David Henson – T42 200m
Sammi Kinghorn – T53 400m
Maria Lyle – T35 100, 200m
Stephen Miller – F32 Club Throw
Gemma Prescott – F32 Club Throw
Andrew Small – T33 100m
Isaac Towers – T34 800m
Richard Whitehead – T42 100m
