Pushing for Commonwealth glory | Australian wheelchair racers take on Dubai
Published Fri 25 Mar 2022
Australia’s top T53/54 wheelchair racers have continued their quest to qualify for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with a string of solid performances at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai this week.
Unlike their able-bodied counterparts, Para-athletes are awarded spots on the team for Birmingham based on their world rankings per medal event at the end of the qualifying period on April 18, 2022.
Athletes will need to be within the top 8 in the Commonwealth in their event to seek selection, and with the deadline fast approaching, our wheelchair athletes proved they are well in contention to wear the green and gold at their one and only Championships opportunity this year.
Day 1 Results
The quintet of Australians lined up on Day 1 of competition, with six-time Paralympian Angie Ballard, Sam Carter, Luke Bailey, Jake Lappin and Sam Rizzo all competing in the 800m.
Though not on the Commonwealth Games program, with only the 1500m and marathon available to T53/54 athletes, the Australian contingent used the race as crucial experience, having not come up against international competition since the Tokyo Games last year.
Two-time Paralympian Sam Carter (Fred Periac) placed highest in the 800m, clocking 1:36.28 to place third in his heat and 10th over all in the timed finals. Just behind in him in fourth to sixth place, and 11th to 13th overall were the rest of his compatriots as Luke Bailey (Andrew Dawes) clocking 1:37.65, while Sam Rizzo (Richard Colman) and Jake Lappin (Fred Periac) followed in with 1:37.74 and 1:37.97 respectively.
The sole Australian female athlete on ground, Angie Ballard also competed in the 800m event, placing a triumphant second in 1:59.22 behind Great Britain’s T34 athlete, Hannah Cockroft (1:53.26)
Day 2 Results
After warming up with the 800m, the Australians were primed and ready for their main event of the Grand Prix - the 1500m. With less than a month until the Commonwealth Games qualification deadline, pressure was on for athletes to perform and they certainly impressed.
The best of the men was Canberran Jake Lappin (Fred Periac) who clocked 2:58.47 as he makes his way back to the top after missing out on selection for the Tokyo Games. Lappin’s time was 10th best in the time finals, while Sam Carter placed 12th in a time of 2:59.11. Rizzo, in his second performance of the meet, crossed the line in 2:59.74, marking the first time he has gone sub 3 minutes in the event, while Bailey, came through in 3:01.64 to place 15th in the field of 20.
Ballard placed fifth in the women’s event, clocking 3:34.35 to place fifth. Ballard, remains at a comfortable fourth place within the Commonwealth.
Following the event, the 1500m T54 see two Australians within the top 8 in the Commonwealth, and two just outside.
7th – Jake Lappin
8th – Cam Carter
9th – Sam Rizzo
11th – Luke Bailey
Other races that day, saw Sam Carter and Luke Bailey contest the 100m sprint, with Luke Bailey placing second in the timed finals in 14.55 behind Thailand’s Paeng-Nuea, and Carter in 14.59 for a triumphant third place finish.
Day 3 Results
The final day of racing saw three athletes compete for a lap around the track. Sam Carter placed fourth overall in the 400m, with 46.93 while Jake Lappin placed fifth in 47.24. Ballard, who previously held the world record in her class in the 400, finished her race in 57.67 to finish third.
The quintet of wheelchair racers will now return home and turn their attention to the 2022 Australian Track & Field Championships in Sydney, where they will aim to lower their times again to climb the ranks of the Commonwealth.
By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 25/3/2022
