Australia’s Angela Ballard was the surprise Gold medalist in this wet and windy Hampden venue this evening. Diane Roy, the Canadian favourite going into the race took Silver with England’s Jade Jones pushing on to get Bronze.
Wet conditions of course meant slower times.
- 3:59.20 Angela Ballard, 32, (AUS)
- 3:59.55 Diane Roy, 43 (CAN)
- 4:00.19 Jade Jones, 18 (ENG)
- 4:03.43 Christie Dawes, 34, (AUS)
- 4:03.95 Samantha Kinghorn, 18 (SCO)
- 4:06.26 Shelly Woods, 28, (ENG)
- 4:07.86 Meggan Dawson-Farrell (SCO)
- 4:11.29 Anita Fordjour, 32 (GHA)
- 4:11.34 Lauren Rowles, 16, (ENG)
- 4:30.99 Ajara Mohammed, 40 (GHA)More to follow…
Read our recent interview with Samii Kinghorn here.
Angela BALLARD (AUS) – gold
On her performance:
“Midway through the race I was boxed in. I didn’t think that was part of the plan. I didn’t intend for that to happen. But because of the wet weather and the degrees in which people push well in that, it worked out for me.”
On the weather:
“It was a pretty huge effect, really. Before the race, when we were talking tactics, we listed all the girls and how they do in the dry. Then we went back through that list of girls – in the wet it’s different. I push well in both, so that’s a strength for me. But for some (competitors), you could start to discount them when it started to rain.”
On the strong start from silver medallist Diane Roy (CAN):
“I actually didn’t expect her to push as hard as she did. But she was smart, she was getting the wet off the track, but not the wet of the chairs in front of her. So when I was behind her, it kind of felt like I was snorkling.”
On winning gold:
“A silver is great, a bronze is great, but first is awesome, any day.”
On the crowd:
“It’s awesome out there, they’re so supportive no matter what. It’s actually kind of exciting when England or the Scots come first, because they ramp it up again. Just the density of the crowd out there – probably only London (2012 Olympic Games) can compare.”
Diane ROY (CAN) – silver
On winning silver at the Commonwealth Games:
“My goal was to win gold but I have to be happy with silver; when it rains it changes a lot of things.”
On the race and the rainy conditions:
“I started to sprint at 400m because I wanted to go fast. When you sprint in the rain sometimes you slip.”
On being overtaken:
“It was hard being in front all that time (and then not winning), but when it rains and you are behind you get a lot of water thrown up.”
Jade JONES (ENG) – bronze
On her feelings before the race:
“I was nervous going out there. It was a bit slippery, but I knew I had to relax and keep it cool.”
On the race:
“The race was tactical. I stuck to my plan and it worked. Rain affects things so much, it was much more spread out.”
On winning bronze:
“It’s very unexpected. I can’t quite believe it. I was just going into this for experience. I’ve been training all year – training has been going well, racing has been going well. This is a really good building block to progress from.”
“A medal here is a good opportunity to progress and go on to the paralympics. This is my first senior medal so it means a lot.”
“I wanted to come top five, but never thought I’d medal. That’s incredible. I’m always the youngest on the start line, and have been since 2010. This gives me confidence.”
About the athletes…
Lauren Rowles, 16 (ENG)
Classification
T54
Origin of Impairment
Illness
Impairment Details
She was diagnosed with transverse myelitis in 2012. The condition caused her to lose the mobility in both legs.
Start of sporting career
She took up para-athletics in 2012.
Reason for taking up this sport
She loves the sense of achievement she gets from the sport.
Ambitions
To compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Training
She trains six times per week. She has two sessions on the track at Coventry Godiva Harriers in England, and spends the rest of the time training on rollers in her training room.
Hero
US wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden.
Shelly Woods, 28 (ENG)
Classification
T54
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Accident
Impairment Details
In 1997 she was playing hide-and-seek with friends and fell from a tree. She broke her back, damaged her spinal cord and was paralysed from the waist down.
Start of sporting career
She began wheelchair racing at age 15.
Reason for taking up this sport
Her first coach Jason Gil let her try his racing wheelchair and she loved it.
Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Training
She trains six days a week in Kirby and Kingston in England.
Most memorable sporting achievement
Setting a new world record for the 1500m in 2010.
Hero
British wheelchair racer David Weir.
Meggan Dawson-Farrell,21, (SCO)
Classification
T54
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Start of sporting career
In mid-2009 she attended a ‘Come and Try’ weekend in Largs, Scotland, with a spina bifida association.
Ambitions
To compete at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. “Beyond that I would hope that my hard work and dedication would put me on the right track for the 2016 Paralympic Games and beyond.” She also wants to get involved mentoring young athletes with impairments.
Hero
“I admire Heinz Frei [Swiss wheelchair athlete.] He is still putting out some amazing races in his tender years of 50-something.”
Most influential person in career
Her parents.
Sporting philosophy / motto
“I have some issues because of my impairment but I get on with it because it’s all I’ve ever known. I live my life.”
General
PERSONAL ROLLER SYSTEM
She trains on a home made roller system, similar to a treadmill. Her father John, a steel fabricator, designed and built it for her.
Jade Jones, 18, (ENG)
Classification
T54
Origin of Impairment
Congenital – Illness
Impairment Details
She has focal femur deficiency which meant she was born without the top half of her right leg. Her foot was amputated in 2006.
Start of sporting career
She began the sport in 2008 at a school sports meeting.
Reason for taking up this sport
She met Tanni Grey-Thompson and Ian Thompson at a school sports meeting and they encouraged her to try the sport.
Hero
British Paralympians Tanni Grey-Thompson and Chantal Petitclerc.
Most influential person in career
British Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Sporting philosophy / motto
“When I’m racing, it’s a real adrenaline rush at the beginning. Then it’s all about using strength and technique.”
