Ballard edges De Rozario for Australian Record

Australian Paralympic teammates Angela Ballard and Madison de Rozario turned into rivals at the Daniela Jutzeler memorial meet for para-athletes in Arbon, Switzerland last week.

Ballard and de Rozario, who share eleven Paralympic medals between them, jostled for the top two positions in the T53 - T54 1500m wheelchair event, with Ballard stopping the clock in 3:20.94 just in front of de Rozario in 3:21.03 in a new Australian Record time.

Rio Paralympic teammate Jemima Moore was also in the race, finishing in 11th position in 3:33.42.

It was a busy weekend for Australia's wheelchair athletes in Switzerland with ten Australians taking to the track during the meet, including impressive performances from four-time Paralympic Games medallist Rheed McCracken.

McCracken, just 20 years old took out first place in the T34 100m and 200m both in new Australian Record times in front of Rio 100m Paralympic gold medallist and eight-time world champion Walid Ktila (TUN).

Paralympic legend Kurt Fearnley also raced, finishing 4th in the T54 5000m with PB time of 9:52.31 - a time that beat the world record held by Marcel Hug (SUI). Of course, this time ensures a new Australian Record for the 36-year-old. This week, Australians may have watched Fearnley on ABC TV's "Anh's Brush with Fame", which you can catch up on iview here.

Anh Do's guest this week is inspirational five-time Paralympian @kurtfearnley. #AnhsBrushWithFame Wed 8pm. pic.twitter.com/lQF3HAI2cZ

— ABC TV Australia (@ABCTV) May 20, 2017

Australia's top para-athletes are making their final preparations before the World Para Athletics Championships in London, less than 50 days away. The final teams will be confirmed in the coming weeks.