Here’s who qualified for finals this evening:
12.23 Libby Clegg (SCO)
13.40 Maria Elisa Muchavo (Mozambique)
13.40 Lahia Ishitile (Namibia)
13.79 Tracey Hinton (WAL)
times in red
Libby Clegg (SCO) On her performance:
“I am very happy, that is the best I have run all year. The crowd is fantastic, especially for a morning event. They were very lifting.”
About the Athletes…
Libby Clegg (SCO)
Type of Impairment
Visual impairment
Origin of Impairment
Congenital – Genetic
Impairment Details
She has a deteriorating eye condition known as Stargardt’s disease, which has also affected her two younger brothers. She is almost completely blind, although she does have slight peripheral vision in her left eye.
Start of sporting career
She took up the sport in 1999 at age nine at the Macclesfield Harriers Club in England.
Reason for taking up this sport
She was spotted by a UK Athletics talent scout.
Ambitions
To compete as an able-bodied athlete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Training
He schedule includes work in the gym and three intensive sprint sessions per week.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning a gold medal at the 2011 World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Hero
British wheelchair athlete David Weir.
Most influential person in career
Her mother.
General
GUIDE
Her guide runner is Mikail Huggins, the step-son of her previous guide Lincoln Asquith. She credits Asquith, a former British international sprinter, for much of her success. “I don’t think I would be where I am right now if it wasn’t for Lincoln. He has taught me so much, all the different aspects of running and much more as well.”
Tracey Hinton (WAL)
Type of Impairment
Visual impairment
Origin of Impairment
Illness
Impairment Details
She lost her sight at age four due to cancer of the retina.
Start of sporting career
She took up athletics in 1988 at age 18 at Cardiff Athletics Club in Wales.
Reason for taking up this sport
She played many sports at school but decided to focus on athletics after she was chosen to represent Great Britain as a junior.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Representing Great Britain for more than 20 years.
General
OLYMPIC CAPTAIN
She was captain of Great Britain’s athletics team at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
Maria Elisa Muchavo (Mozambique)
Type of Impairment
Visual impairment
Start of sporting career
She began the sport in 2010 in Maputo, Mozambique.
Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Hero
Mozambique Olympic 800m runner Maria de Lurdes Mutola.
Awards
Named Best Paralympic Athlete of the Year 2012 by the Mozambique National Institute of Sports.
General
NATIONAL FIRST
By competing at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, she became Mozambique’s first ever female Paralympian.