World Para-Athletics Grand Prix, Nottwil

The World Para Athletics Grand Prix series enters its seventh year in 2019 with nine events scheduled to take place around the world between February and August, ahead of the World Para Athletics Championships in November.

Over the weekend (24-26th May) in Nottwil, Switzerland, the fastest track in wheelchair racing played host to the Para-Athletics Grand Prix. Fourteen world records have been broken at the Nottwil Grand Prix, which continually attracts many of the best racers in the world.

The highlight on day one of competition was Commonwealth Games medallist Eliza Ault-Connell breaking her own Australian and Oceania T54 800m records. She clocked 1:45.08 placing fifth in a very high quality race, where the European and Asian area records were also broken. Eliza had set her previous record at the venue last year.

In the men’s sprints, Chad Perris was the standout, claiming a T13 100m and 200m double in 11.00 and 22.28. Other Aussie winners were: Madi de Rozario T53 800m 1:50.09, Evan O’Hanlon T38 100m 11.38 and Rosemary Little T33 800m 2:47.05.

On day two, there were many more podium finishes. One of the highlights was a very tactical win by Madi de Rozario in the T54 1500m over her arch-rivals, including Tatyana McFadden (USA), who has won the last Paralympic and World Championships titles and jointly holds the world record with Madi.

Rio Paralympic Champion, Vanessa Low, won the F61 long jump with a wind assisted leap of 5.26m. Unfortunately, the excessive wind assistance ruled out any records.

There were more wins on day two for Eliza Ault-Connell T54 100m 16.99, Chad Perris T13 100m 11.02, Evan O’Hanlon T38 100m 11.20, Rosemary Little T33 100m 23.40, Rheed McCracken T34 100m 15.75 and Sam McIntosh T52 100m 18.09.

The highlights on the final day of the Para-Athletics Nottwil Grand Prix in Switzerland were Australian records by Eliza Ault-Connell in the T54 400m clocking 53.37 and Madi de Rozario in the T53 5000m with 10:59.05. For Eliza, it was her second Australian record at the meet, earlier breaking the 800m record.

Former world record holder Angie Ballard was also very impressive with a quick 55.28 for second in the T53 400m.

Further Results Day One: 2nd T63 100m Scott Reardon Australia 12.48, 2nd T33 200m Rosemary Little 43.34, 4th T34 200m Robyn Lambird 37.10, 7th T53 200m Maya Dove 1:02.95, 14th T53 200m Aimee Fisher 33.45, 4th T52 200m Josh Hose 35.69, 3rd T54 200m Sam Carter 25.19, 13th T54 200m Luke Bailey 26.96, 4th T53 800m Angela Ballard 1:53.68, 12th T54 800m Jemima Moore 1:55.85, 2nd T34 800m Rheed McCracken 1:46.92, 8th T53 800m Richard Colman 1:40.64, 8th T54 800m Jake Lappin 1:34.47, 31st T54 800m Samuel Rizzo 1:39.55.

Further Results Day Two: 2nd Robyn Lambird T34 100m 20.33, 2nd Angela Ballard T53 100m 18.04, 11th Maya Dove T53 100m 34.34, 10th Josh Hose T52 100m 20.38, 15th Luke Bailey T54 100m 15.48, 21st Sam Rizzo T54 100m 15.65, 6th Angela Ballard T53 1500m 3:29.09, 8th Eliza Ault-Connell T54 1500m 3:37.28, 13th Jemima Moore T54 1500m 3:38.28, 24th Sam Rizzo T54 1500m 3:11.89, 29th Jake Lappin T54 1500m 3:13.98, 32nd Richard Colman T53 1500m 3:15.38 and 2nd Scott Reardon T63 100m 12.52.

Full Results: 14th Maya Dove T53 400m 2:01.18, 4th Eliza Ault-Connell T54 400m 53.37, 27th Aimee Fisher T54 400m 1:06.47, 10th Sam McIntosh T52 400m 1:10.08, 11th Josh Hose T52 400m 1:11.69, 5th Richard Colman T53 400m 50.27, 13th Sam Carter T54 400m 48.48, 15th Jake Lappin T54 400m 48.68, 31st Sam Rizzo T54 400m 51.14, 3rd Madi de Rozario T53 5000m 10:59.05 and 23rd Jake Lappin T54 5000m 10:34.52.