After a nasty crash in Monday night’s T54 800m final, Richard Chiassaro returned with a creditable fourth place finish in this evening’s T54 200m final on the fifth day of the World Para Athletics Championships.
Along with fellow Brit, Nathan Maguire, the pair faced a field including four sub-25 athletes.
Last year’s European champion over the distance, Chiassaro, got out well from lane eight at the gun to quickly move on to Maguire’s shoulder in the lane to his right. Yassine Gharbi claimed a championship record of 24.86 and gold, Chiassaro held it together to move past German Marc Schuh in lane six to pinch fourth in 25.12, a season’s best and his second quickest ever time.
He said: “The three guys that finished in front of me are world class and some of the fastest starters in the world, so for me to catch them and be in contention near the end of the race was good. I know that I’ve got to go away and work on my starts; my top speed is as good if not better than some of those guys, so that’s where I need to put the work in. I’m getting a bit tired, but 400m is my favourite so I’ll look forward to it tomorrow.”
Last year’s Paralympic Games T47 100m finalist, 17 year-old, Polly Maton took to the track for another sprint final. Whilst Deja Young of the USA went well clear on route to gold, Maton moved through to take fifth in 13.04, a season’s best time.
“I’ve gone sub-13 previously so I would have been hoping for that sort of time, but I’ve had some problems with my calf over the last couple of days so just to be out here running is so exciting,” said Maton. Speaking about the experience, she added: “I was too young for 2012, but to have people cheering you on like that means the world. Hopefully as a young athlete I’ll keep progressing; the dream is Tokyo 2020.”
British Athletics medallists (20) at the World Para Athletics Championships London 2017:
Gold (11):
Hollie Arnold – F46 Javelin
Olivia Breen – T38 Long Jump
Hannah Cockroft – T34 100m, 800m
Aled Davies – F42 Discus
Sophie Hahn – T38 200m
Sophie Kamlish – T44 100m
Sammi Kinghorn – T53 200m
Jonnie Peacock – T44 100m
Stef Reid – T44 Long Jump
Richard Whitehead – T42 200m
Silver (2):
Kare Adenegan – T34 100m
Toby Gold – T33 100m
Bronze (7):
Kare Adenegan – T34 800m
Kadeena Cox – T38 200m
David Henson – T42 200m
Maria Lyle – T35 200m
Gemma Prescott – F32 Club Throw
Andrew Small – T33 100m
Richard Whitehead – T42 100m