Wheelchair races in full force in Nottwil, Switzerland

When it comes to wheelchair racing, Nottwil, Switzerland is the place to be – and that rang true for Australia’s top talent this week as they supercharged their preparations for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games and beyond at the third leg of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix.

Famous for featuring the fastest track in wheelchair racing, the Nottwill Grand Prix attracts not only the best racers but world-class competition, and 12 of Australia’s athletes impressed with 60 elite performances over the four days of competition.

Months before he makes his third Commonwealth Games appearance, Jake Lappin (Fred Periac) came close to a new personal best on two occasions in the 1500m and 5000m T54, racing 2:57.72 in the 1500m, and 10:24.06 in the 5000m. The Canberran also placed sixth overall in the 1500m series, with just two Commonwealth Games athletes, Daniel Sidbury (GBR) and Nathan Macguire (GBR) in front of him, showing promise as he aims to win his second international medal in Birmingham. 

Paralympic champion Madison de Rozario (Louise Sauvage) also continued her strong form on the global stage, with a victory in the 1500m T53/54. Her time of 3:14.98 was her second best ever, and her fastest time in four years, placing her as the Commonwealth lead.

Showing off her strength across multiple distances, the marathon and track star also placed second in her 800m event in 1:48.76, only beaten by a new world record set by hometown hero Catherine Debrunner (1:44.87). De Rozario concluded her campaign with a 5000m race, where she finished in a time of 11:26.72.

Racing for the first time internationally since the Tokyo Games was four-time Paralympic medallist Rheed McCracken (Andrew Dawes) who arrives back in Australia with one win and a third-placing in the 100m T34 against a slick field. Most impressively, he took down reigning world champion and Paralympic gold medallist Walid Ktila (Tunisia) in his final race of the campaign, and also clocked an Oceania record and personal best of 50.96 in the 400m to place second. McCracken placed second the 800m T34, an event he won bronze in at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Seasoned veteran and former 400m T53/54 world record holder Angie Ballard (Fred Periac) finished the series with two podium finishes in her Commonwealth Games event, the 1500m T53/54 and the 400m T53/54. Her 1500m performance of 3:34.20 was her best performance for three years and proves she will be able to mix it with the best when she takes to the track in Birmingham.

In his only international event of the year Sam McIntosh (Fred Periac) recorded podium placings in the 100m T52, with a second and third place finish.

Sam Rizzo (Richard Colman) continued his surge in the sport, clocking a new lifetime best of 49.34 in the 400m T54. Rizzo, who just missed out on an automatic invitation to the Commonwealth also recorded his best 800m time for three years when crossing the finish line in 1:37.20.

Tokyo Paralympian Luke Bailey (Andrew Dawes) also made his return to the track, with a new personal best of 48.84 in the 400m T54. Bailey contested two strong performances in his Paralympic event, the 100m T54 where he finished second in both A-finals. In front of him on both occasions was four-time Paralympic champion and Tokyo silver medallist Leo Pekka (Tahiti) highlighting his capability as he progresses in the sport.  

The rising stars of the Australian wheelchair racing scene Aimee Fisher (Andrew Dawes) and Sarah Clifton-Bligh (Louise Sauvage) made their names known on the circuit, both taking home personal best times. Fischer secured a wind assisted personal best of 17.8 in the 100m T54, while Clifton-Bligh, the only T33 athlete amongst the T34 field, shaved 1.3 seconds off her previous personal best in the 100m T34in a time of 21.97 (0.8), highlighting there is plenty to come ahead of her Commonwealth Games debut in August.

Grand Prix debutants Cory Crombie (Fred Periac), Waryk Holmes (Fred Periac) and Cormac Ryan (Glen Lebeau) come back to Australia successful after their first international competition, with Crombie recording two personal bests in the 800m (1:51.80) and 1500m T54 (3:36.36) across the Grand Prix as well as the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial at the same venue. Holmes too secured personal best times of 17.19 in the 100m, 1:05.92 in the 400m and 2:18.58 in the 800m to wrap up his campaign.

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 1/6/2022