Holt Shatters World Record to Win Australia’s First Medal on the Track

Queensland’s Isis Holt (Paul Pearce) has won Australia’s first medal on the track at the Tokyo Paralympic Games, claiming silver in the 100m T35 in record time.

After a considerable stint away from the sport, the 20-year-old proved that she lost none of her competitive edge on the world stage when she stormed down the home straight in the fastest ever 100m T35 race, clocking 13.13 to shatter her world record set in 2015 by 0.3 seconds.

While it took a new world record of 13.00 from defending Paralympic champion Xia Zhou to beat her, Holt put her competitors on notice, beating bronze medallist Great Britain’s Maria Lyle by more than one second (14.18).

Though Holt will now step up to the same level on the podium that she did at the Rio Games, she is ecstatic with her result.

“After the Commonwealth Games, I thought that was it for me. Then towards the end of year 12, I happened to open up my old races and caught the bug again,” Holt said.

“I was never expecting a time like that today. It would have been awesome to win, but that PB is insane and it beat my world record, so I couldn’t be happier.”

But that’s not all we’ll see from Holt at this Paralympic Games, as she looks to step atop of the dais in the 200m T35 this Sunday, 29 August.

The javelin throw F38 saw not one but two Australians line up for a chance at Paralympic glory. Despite going in as both the world champion and world record holder, Corey Anderson (Des Davis) was unable to throw near his best, finishing just short of the podium at his first Games with a best throw of 54.48m. While he hovered in third place until his final throw, Columbian Luis Fernando Lucumi Villegas overtook the Australian with a 54.58 throw to edge him off the podium.

Experienced campaigner Jayden Sawyer (Mike Barber) finished in seventh place, with his first throw of 45.57m recorded as his best.  It has been a Games cycle of highs and lows for Sawyer, who finished in fifth place in Rio, then became world champion in 2017 but placed fifth two years later in Dubai.

Canberra local Alissa Jordaan (Sebastian Kuzminski) will be able to call herself a Paralympic finallist after qualifying fourth in the first heat of the 400m T47 with an area record of 1:00.87. The South African-born sprinter was made to wait for the second heat to take place before being able to celebrate her endeavour, but comfortably progressed through to grab one of the remaining spots in tomorrow's final. 

“It’s the best race I’ve done in a long time so you’ve got to be happy with that," Jordaan said.

“I’m not going to lie, there were a whole lot of nerves beforehand. But at the end of the day you’ve just got to do what you came here to do - and that’s run your best.”

Sam McIntosh (Fred Periac) competed at his third Paralympic Games in the 400m T52 to finish fifth in his heat. Though he did not advance to the final, he stopped the clock at 1:07.97 for a season’s best time and will now look ahead to his pet event, the 100m T52.

“The 400m always seems like a long way when you’re a 100m specialist but I’m really happy with a season best. The first 200m was really something positive to take out of this so I’m really looking forward to September 3^rd,” McIntosh said.

The youngest athlete on the Australian Para-athletics Team Jaydon Page (Sebastian Kuzminski) set foot in Japan National Stadium for his first international competition but narrowly missed the 100m T47 final. He ran a speedy 11.18 to finish fifth in his heat but relished the opportunity to wear the green and gold.

“This was definitely the goal. I came here to get a feeling of what it’s like so I can do it again next year. I’ve learnt so much from my squad, like Evan O’Hanlon and Chad Perris. I can’t tell you their training secrets, but I’m lucky to train with them and lucky to be here,” Page said.

“It means a lot to be at the Paralympics. It’s always been a childhood dream. (Esteemed coach) Iryna (Dvoskina) found me and gave me to my new coach and it’s all come really quickly.”

The Paralympic Athletics action continues tomorrow, with eight Australians set to compete, including fan-favourites Jaryd Clifford, Madison de Rozario and five-time Paralympic gold medallist Evan O'Hanlon. Watch each event live on the Seven Network or 7Plus. 

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 27/8/2021