WORLD PARA ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS DUBAI - DAY 7 PREVIEW

Today Australia gets to unleash its ‘white tiger’ Chad Perris.

The Western Australia native came from an Australian Football background before his eyesight deterioration changed his course – and sport.

He was born with albinism, hence the nickname. But Perris took running seriously in 2013. He went to the Para-Athletics Championships in Lyon that year but didn’t medal.

Then in 2014 he hooked up with leading sprint coach Iryna Dvoskina, who has Paralympic gold medallists Evan O’Hanlon, Scott Reardon and James Turner in her stable, and things started to move.

Perris won silver and bronze world medals in Doha in 2015 before coming from the clouds to win his 100m (T13) heat for vision-impaired athletes at his first Games, the 2016 Rio Paralympics, and then taking the bronze in the final.

Another 100m bronze at the last world championships in London in 2017, and you can see why Perris’ passion for gold has been smouldering for some time.

In other action on the Dubai track on Day 7, sprint king and new 100m (T36) world record holder James Turner returns for the 400m heats to see if he can qualify for Thursday night’s final add to his gold from Sunday night.

Jake Lappin races the heats of the 5000m (T54), hoping to grab a spot in his second final here.

Distance queens Madison de Rozario and Eliza Ault-Connell line up for the women’s 5000m (T54) final.

They are both riding high from being a part of a four-medal female haul on Tuesday night at the Dubai track.

De Rozario won gold in the 800m (T53) final, while two events later Ault-Connell claimed bronze in the 400m (T54).

The other two medals last night went to long jumper Vanessa Low (gold) and sprinter Rhiannon Clarke in the 100m (T38) for bronze.

Clarke returns today with teammate Ella Pardy for the women’s 200m (T38) final.

In field events, high jumper (T47) Aaron Chatman and shot putter Guy Henly (F37) have been patiently waiting over six days of competition to strut their stuff – tonight is the night as they headline the evening session.

-ENDS

Michael Angus
michael.angus@athletics.org.au

Margie McDonald
mcdonaldmargie58@gmail.com