Roeger to Set the Record Straight as Crombie Fires for Three-Peat

World record holder Michael Roeger is hoping that today is the day he comes back to finish the job he started over one decade ago, vying for his first global gold medal on the track as Cameron Crombie shoots for a historic three-peat on the penultimate day of the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.

For distance supremo Roeger (SA, Philo Saunders), this World Championships race is one of profound significance as the four-time Paralympian looks to go full circle when stepping back down to his roots in the 1500m T46, after spending the past five years focussing on the marathon.

History has not been kind to Roeger at major championships. Despite owning both the official world record (3:46.51 in 2017) and a just three weeks ago, a world best time in the event (3:44.83), the Langhorne Creek product has suffered a number of blows leading into major championships including gastrointestinal bleeding at the London 2012 Games and stress fractures in the lead up to other major events including Tokyo, putting a gold medal out of reach.

“I’ve dreamed of winning a final and a global gold medal for so long. I just haven’t been able to get the job done. I’ve had a bit of bad luck on the track and hopefully this time, all the stars will align. I’m definitely fit physically and mentally. You just need a bit of luck and hopefully this year is my turn for luck. It will also be the first step on a big block as we have a really big 12 months ahead and I think we can do well.”

Stepping onto the track in career best form, 35-year-old Roeger believes the time is now to write the fairy tale he has dreamed of since first donning the green and gold in 2008.

“I’ve gone into world championships and Paralympics before but I’ve never run this quick and never been in this good position physically before, so it’s funny how the world works. It could be a full circle in that I start at the 1500m and come back to the 1500m and do what I was supposed to do in 2015, 2016 and 2017.”

Back-to-back Shot Put F38 world champion Cameron Crombie (ACT, Hamish MacDonald) finds himself on the brink of a historic three-peat of world titles, but standing in his way is a field of fierce competitors - including teammate Marty Jackson (VIC, John Eden).

The Australian duo will have their work cut out for them in the form of Kuwait’s Faisal Sorour, who this February launched a new world record of 16.46m to lead the field by over half a metre on paper. Crombie’s 15.95m seeding sees him ranked second, while Jackson’s 15.46m career-best would also see him sitting in medal contention, setting up an enticing battle in the circle between the strong men of the F38 class.

Man-mountain Guy Henly (VIC, self coached) has won a medal at all three World Para Athletics since 2013, with the friendly giant vying to make it fourth straight and a decade of silverware when stepping into the circle for the Discus F37.

In the field of 12, Henly is one of five men who has surpassed the 50m-barrier in 2023, with the farthest of those a 52.32m effort by Venezuela's Edwards Alexander Varela Meza. The Australian will also have to be wary of Ukraine’s reigning Paralmypic silver medallist Mykola Zhabnyak, but having tasted fourth place in Tokyo - Henly will be eager to go one better.

Last night’s 100m T52 heats witnessed Sam McIntosh (VIC, Fred Periac) push his way to a lane in tonight’s final, with the 35-year-old approaching in career-best sprinting form with his first round performance of 17.91. McIntosh will race as the equal fourth seed, with his mind fixed on bettering his best World Championships showing of fifth place.

Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan) will feature in race number five of her championships after competing in the heats and finals of the 100m T38 and 200m T38, now out to replicate that feat in the 400m T36. With 10 entries across two heats and eight lanes in the final, Clarke’s best of 1:02.65 holds her in good stead to add a sixth race to her campaign.

Young gun Sarah Clifton-Bligh (NSW, Louise Sauvage) will race the 800m T54 Final buoyed by the confidence of a successful time at Stade Charlety to date, having set a championship record for the 100m T33 class and a new Shot Put F33 personal best. The youngest athlete in the field of seven, Clifton-Bligh will look to add the icing to the sweet success her World Para Championships debut has been.

After missing out on medals in the 100m and 400m T34, three-time Paralympian Rheed McCracken (NSW, Louise Sauvage) returns to Charlety Stadium one last time in a bid to extend his success at major championships. Stepping up in distance to the 800m, McCracken attempt to emulate the form that saw him win bronze medals in the two-lap event at the Lyon 2013 World Para Athletics Championships and the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Building on the wheelchair racing action on Day Eight, Australia will post a three-pronged attack in the 800m T54 Heats, with Australian record holder Jake Lappin (ACT, Jamie Green) leading Samuel Rizzo (VIC, Richard Colman) and Luke Bailey (NSW, Andrew Dawes).

Lappin will be chasing the form that saw him clock a scorching 1:31.62 this May, a time that would place him in finals contention, while Rizzo will be out to maintain his perfect conversion rate from heats to finals this championships and Bailey chases his first finals berth in Paris.

By Lachlan Moorhouse and Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 16/7/2023