Triple Threat Close Championships with Podium in Paris

A trio of Australian stars saved their best for last on the final day of the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, as debutants Reece Langdon and Angus Hincksman raced to the Paris podium, followed by a shiny silver for Tokyo Paralympian Rhiannon Clarke to lift the nation to 14 medals. 

Australia’s depth on the middle-distance scene extended to the 1500m T38 Final in Paris, as Langdon (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy) and Hincksman (SA, Simon Moran) harvested silver and bronze medals in the hotly-contested affair, while Paralympic medallist Deon Kenzie (TAS, Philo Saunders) finished in fifth place.

Posting an Australian trio in the leading quartet, Langdon was the first to launch his bid for glory when hitting the front in the final 200m, before world record holder Nate Riech (Canada) stormed across the finish line in 4:03.07. Langdon was forced to settle for silver in 4:04.30, while Hincksman (4:05.18) and Kenzie (4:06.59) followed in the tactical affair.

“Two out of three Aussies on the podium, it is pretty promising especially when you think about the Paralympics next year. It’s just inspiring for that next generation to come,” Langdon said.

“The silver medal, as amazing as it is, hopefully I go one better and push for that gold. That’s definitely my goal. We’ve got 12 and a bit months of training and hopefully I can go one step better next year.” 

Australia’s youngest team member at 17-years-old, Hincksman was buoyed by the opportunity to share the track with long-time idol Kenzie at his international debut: 

“It was pretty emotional as I crossed the finish line. He was the first person that came up to me, he gave me a big hug. It was definitely a dream come true, I never expected to make my international debut like that. I’ve looked up to him since I started and now I got to run alongside him,” Hincksman said. 

It was the sweetest of silvers for 20-year-old Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan) in the 400m T38, blazing to a new Oceania record of 1:02.36 to secure her third global medal as she put her fourth-place heartbreak in both the 100m T38 and 200m T38 behind her. 

“I was going into today quite nervous, thinking that maybe there was a chance for bronze, I was not expecting silver! I felt like I was running on cloud nine, it was so amazing,” Clarke said.

As Hungary’s Luca Ekler set a new world record of 59.74-seconds for gold, Clarke entered the straight in third place before rallying to the silver medal, producing an inspired performance on the ninth and final day of the championships. 

“I knew once I reached the straight that I was guaranteed a medal, but I found something within me. I could hear my coach in my ear screaming at me to keep those knees up and that’s what I did.”

18-year-old Jaydon Page (ACT, Sebastian Kuzminski) bolted to fifth place in the 100m T47  in 10.90 (+0.7), building on his Commonwealth Games bronze of 2022. Slow out of the blocks, the Canberra teenager fought his way into one of the most competitive races of the championships, falling  just 0.05-seconds short of the podium - a feat that already has him dreaming of the Paralympic podium in 2024.

Waka Waka and Gubbi Gubbi woman Samantha Schmidt (QLD, Ralph Newton) neared her Oceania record with a 34.02m effort to finish in fifth place of the 13-strong Discus F38 competition, delivering the throw in the third round. 18-year-old Ella Hose (VIC, Gus Puopolo) added a 10th place finish to her international debut with a 24.72m throw after finishing fourth in the Shot Put F38. 

A brave international debut for Daniel Milone (VIC, Gavin Burren) saw the 20-year-old mix it with the world’s best 1500m T20 athletes as just the fourth Australian male in history to contest the event. Milone finished in 15th place in a time of 4:08.84 - the second fastest time of his career. 

Rheed McCracken (NSW, Louise Sauvage) capped off his Paris campaign with a seventh-place finish in the 800m T34 Final, completing the two-lap course in 1:44.34 in his sixth race of the championships. 

Australia finish the 2023 edition of the  World Para Athletics Championships in 18th place with three gold, eight silver and three bronze medals. Full results can be found HERE. 

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 17/7/2023