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The scene is set for a terrific season of Para-athletics, with three world records, subject to ratification, falling on the first day of competition at the season-opening 2019 World Para-athletics Grand Prix in Dubai, UAE, on Sunday (24 February).
Among the new world record holders was 28-year-old Paralympic champion Vanessa Low, who leapt a massive 5.05m in the women’s long jump T61. She is the first in her class to go beyond the five-metre mark.
“I’m returning to international action after a long time and it feels great,” said Low, who took two years out from competition to recover from a back injury she suffered in the build up to the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
“I have worked a lot on my consistency. Reaching the five-metre mark was impossible a decade back, but I am happy to get it right at the start of the season.”
In other results, world silver medallist Angie Ballard (17.06) took first place in the women’s 100m T53, Madison de Rozario (3:34.35) took the tape in the women’s 1500m T54, and world champion Jayden Sawyer (48.10m) was the stand-out winner in the men’s javelin F12/13/38. Rheed McCracken finished second behind Tunisia’s Walid Ktila in the men’s 100m T34.
By World Para-athletics
Posted: 28/02/2019
Photo with thanks to World Para-athletics / Getty Images
