Roeger and de Rozario claim first track medals at Paris Paralympics | Day Two

Experienced campaigners Madison de Rozario and Michael Roeger have claimed Australia’s first track medals at the Paralympic Games, as Rhiannon Clarke and Ella Hose rewrite the history books with Australian records on Day 2 of the athletics action at Stade de France.

From gun to tape, a bleach-haired Roeger (SA, Philo Saunders) gave it everything he had in the 1500m T46 stepping up from his Rio bronze to silver, but the race was not without its drama for the Langhorne Creek product.

Taking on what looked to be a time trial, Roeger took a commanding lead throughout the race and by the final lap, the gold medal looked to be well in sight. But as his legs started to fatigue, it was rival Aleksandr Iaremchuk that overpowered the Australian veteran for gold.  

“In the last 80-metres, I was just hurting so much and wanted that gold so much,” he said to Nine.

“I did all the work in the first three laps, so tried to set it up but I was going lactic. Had enough of a gap to hold on for second. As much as I would have loved that gold medal and that was the dream, I’ve got to be happy. I left it all out there.”

Winning her seventh Paralympic medal of her decorated career but her first over 5000m, Madison de Rozario (WA, Louise Sauvage) secured Australia’s first medal on the track in Paris when racing to bronze in the T54 class.

With gold and silver medallists Catherine Debrunner (SWI) and Susannah Scaroni (USA) battling it out for the win after a false start haltered the field's progress, the Australian was left to race for bronze against Swiss stalwarts Patricia Eachus and Manuela Schaer and prevailed in a time of 11:10.20.

“It was so elusive. I was fourth when I first raced it, down to fifth in Tokyo and it was one of the worst races of my career,” the Australian flagbearer said.

“I’m glad to get on the podium. It is one of my favourite events.”

In fine form, with her pet events 1500m and the marathon to go, de Rozario is ready and raring.

“I’m hoping it’s the same in a couple of days. I’m glad we kept the track program and that I brought my track suit today (for the medal ceremony).”

Moments before his training partner Roeger celebrated his silver lining, it was heartbreak for three-time Paralympic medallist Jaryd Clifford (VIC) who had the bronze medal in his grasp, only to be disqualified from the 5000m T13.

After a tactical race alongside his sighted guides Tim Logan and Matt Clarke, Clifford and Clarke had crossed the finish line in third place but was disqualified moments after celebrating, for dropping the tether held by Clarke less than a metre before the finish line. Logan was tethered with Clifford for the first 2000m, with Clarke taking over to maintain pace over the last 3000m.

“I’m absolutely devastated that we made such a critical mistake out there,” Clifford said on his Instagram.

“Sport can be a cruel beast at times but the tough times are what makes the good times great. I couldn’t have been more proud to put on the Aussie singlet with my best mates Matt Clarke and Tim Logan tonight.”

Earlier in the race, Clifford and Logan set a steady pace for the field, leading from the front until the bell lap. With gold in sight, Clifford and his second guide Clarke were overtaken by defending champion Yassine Ouhdadi El Ataby and Aleksandr Kostin.

Timing her training to perfection, global medallist Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan) sprinted to two Australian record and a fantastic fourth place in the 100m T38, with a lifetime best of 12.72 in the final 

In the fastest 100m T38 in history that saw Colombia’s Karen Palomeque Moreno break the world record (12.26), Clarke lifted to step up two places from her result in Tokyo and just 0.19s from the podium.

"I'll definitely take that. I woke up knowing I had a job but the heat time got me a bit excited," she said.

"After Tokyo, I wasn't pleased with the results and fell out of love a bit with the sport but I've been working really well with Danny (Kevan) and I've learnt som much. I'm still one of the youngest out there (22)."

Training partner Ella Pardy (WA, Danny Kevan) also took on the heats, finishing her Paris 2024 campaign with a season’s best of 13.15.

A brilliant Paralympic debut for Ella Hose (VIC, John Eden) saw the Australian record holder match her personal best of 11.25 to finish fourth. Putting her best on her second attempt, the 19-year-old relished the opportunity to compete in front of a roaring crowd for the first time, finishing 1.6m behind medal position.

“I don’t really know how to feel right now,” she said.

“I’m caught up in the moment. I’ve never seen a crowd this big before, the noise is deafening and I’m lucky be able to get here. My goal for 2032, I will be 27 years old by then will to be on the podium but getting here was all about experiencing it, getting out there and seeing how it was. I really enjoyed it.”

At just 26-years-old, Sarah Walsh (ACT, Matt Beckenham) is a three-time Paralympian, with the Oceania record holder leaping to 8^th place in the Long Jump T64 final, with landing of 4.88m (-1.6) on her first attempt.

Putting together a strong series of jumps with just one foul, Walsh said:

"I would have liked to leap a bit further and place higher but I'm at my third Paralympic Games and I think that's pretty incredible. I was just this little kid who had a dream and here I am. I don't want to stop that dream."

It was all smiles for Mali Lovell (NSW, Katie Edwards and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor) when crossing the line second in her 200m T36 heat to stop the lock at 30.08. With a Big Q next to her name, Lovell will compete in her maiden Paralympic final tonight at 8.15pm AEST.

"I've had a really good run-up to Paris so if I can bring home a medal for Australia that would be my dream," the 20-year-old said.

The Paralympic Games continue, with Day 3 beginning tonight at 6pm AEST on the Nine Network.

Australian results Day 2 Para-athletics 

MEN 

5000m T13 Final: Jaryd Clifford DQ (15min:55.05sec) 

1500m T46 Final: Michael Roeger, Silver (3m:51.19) 

WOMEN 

5000m T54 Final: Madison de Rozario, Bronze (11m:10.20) 

Long Jump T64 Final: Sarah Walsh, 8th (4.88m) 

100m T38: Ella Pardy, Heat 1, 6th (13.15s) 12th overall; Rhiannon Clarke Heat 2, 4th (12.78); Final, 4th (12.72s) 

Shot Put F37 Final: Ella Hose, 4th 11.25m 

Women’s 200m T36: Mali Lovell, Heat 1 2nd (30.08s). Qualified for final.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 1/8/2024