No slowing down for Aussies on the track

Discus thrower Guy Henly and Sam McIntosh let medals slip from their grasp at the Tokyo Paralympic Games today, but a Paralympic record in a heat from James Turner has fuelled hope for the medal haul to continue tomorrow.

It was heartbreak for Guy Henly (Kim Cousins) who once again missed out on the podium at the Paralympics by one spot. Henly has had a rich history at major championships, having won medals at three of three World Para Athletics Championships, as well as the fourth spot in Rio, but wasn't able to perform at his best in the rain. Henly had a slow start to competition with a foul, followed by a short 40.64m. He slowly built up over the sixth throws, to finish with 48.72m. Unfortunately for Henly, this was considerably shy of the podiums, with gold medallist Haider Ali throwing 55.26m

"I'm still processing it all myself, but it's tough to get fourth place at a Paralympic Games. You put all the hard work in and it's a long five years. But obviously I'm happy to be here and getting that chance at a medal, because a year ago, who knew we'd even be here," he said.

"I had plenty of competition in the lead up. I just think it was just getting to grips with the wetness but everyone was in the same boat with that. I was getting used to it right at the very end but it was a bit too late by then. I didn't have enough pepper on the end of my throws."

Henly, who is based in Canada with his wife, Canadian thrower Jenn Brown said he'll now regroup, with the idea of winning his fourth medal at his fourth World Championships.

"I have to go back and think it all through and come back better and stronger next time. We've got Worlds in a year and maybe I can make up for it with a medal in Japan," he said.

Just like Henly, Sam McIntosh (Fred Periac) finished in fourth for the second consecutive Paralympic Games in the Men's 100m T52m, crossing the line in 17.82m. McIntosh was 0.4 seconds behind Leonardo de Jesus Perez Juarez, something he blames on a slow start.

"It's tough after finishing fourth in Rio, to come back and get the same performance. I was pushing really well coming into these Games, so I was disappointed not to get that jump off the line that I'd been preparing for. Sometimes things just don't work out in sport like the way you plan," he said.

Having never won a medal at an international championship, McIntosh has already set a goal for next year.

"Worlds next year and it's only three years to Paris. It's the same feeling right now that I had in Rio. I want to get onto that podium - that's the goal - and I'll keep coming back around again until hopefully I get that. I just need to be quicker next time. I'm 100 per cent committed to all the training and work that's ahead for things to happen," he said.

In other results from Day 8 of competition, James Turner (Iryna Dvoskina) continued his unbeaten form in the 100m T36 heats, breaking a Paralympic record in the process. Turner ran 11.87 - just short of his 11.72 world record set at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships, but only edged out Peicheng Deng of China by 0.01 seconds.

Turner, confident that he has more in the tank said: "Oh was that a record? I was jogging for 50m. Let's see what I can do in the final."

Rhiannon Clarke (Danny Kevan) has a new personal best in the 400m, with time of 1:02.65 in the T38 heat. Taking two seconds off her previous best, she set an Australian record and will go into the final as the fourth fastest in the field. Tomorrow's final will be the second for the 19-year-old after she placed fifth in the 100m T38 earlier this week.

Rheed McCracken (Andrew Dawes) made a move for a second medal on the track, placing third in his heat to qualify for the Men's 800m T34 final. The 800m is not the sprinter's best event, but his form in a stacked heat showed he has potential to bring home an extra piece of hardware, having finished in 1:48.09.

Tomorrow is the penultimate day of the Paralympic Games, with three Paralympic medallists in McCracken, Turner and Deon Kenzie toeing the line. Tune in via the Seven Network from 10.55am to catch the Australians in action.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 3/9/2021