Sophie Hahn equalled her own world record to lay down a serious marker on the track ahead of tonight’s women’s 100m T38 Paralympic final.
The defending champion saw Colombia’s Darian Jiminez Sanchez erase her Paralympic record in the first heat, clocking 12.54 seconds.
But the 24-year old responded in style, equalling her 12.38s time from the World Championships in Dubai two years ago.
She will be joined in the final by teammate Ali Smith, who clocked a 13.19s personal best, while Olivia Breen just missed out on automatic qualification but made it into the final as one of the next two fastest with her time of 13.15s.
“I’m so pleased to have run an equal PB and world record,” said Hahn. “It is such a fast track, so I am really happy with my performance. I am looking forward to racing in the final later this evening.”
Fellow sprinter Thomas Young was also all business as he won his men’s 100m T38 heat in 11.22s, the second-fastest qualifier to the final behind China’s Zhu Dening.
Double Paralympic long jump silver medallist Stef Reid produced the second biggest jump of her career but her 5.75m effort missed bronze in the T64 final by just three centimetres.
Reid, who made her Games debut in Beijing, where she won 200m bronze representing Canada, said: “Fourth is new to me but that was my best Paralympic performance ever, so it’s bittersweet.
“That was a massive season’s best and I’m so proud of turning my season around. I didn’t even think I’d qualify at one point this year. At the start of the season I didn’t think I had much left and that jump really surprised me.
“It was a world-class final with two women over six metres. I started chatting with my husband about the future but we decided to leave it until after Tokyo, I’m just trying to enjoy this moment.”
Elsewhere, David Devine admitted mixed emotions after his return to the big stage in Tokyo.
Devine won 800m and 1500m bronze at London 2012 as a 20-year old but since then little has gone according to plan.
With three laps to go of his men’s 5000m T13 final at the Olympic Stadium, Devine decided to take on the slow pace, hitting the front and stretching his rivals.
But he admitted the furnace-like temperatures in Tokyo took their toll as he faded to finish fourth, just half a second outside a medal in a 14:38.00 season’s best.
“The immediate sense is disappointment but since London 2012 when I got two bronzes I’ve missed every major championship because I’ve been sick or injured. In the last nine years I’ve only competed in two European Championships,” he said.
“I’m proud to get back to this level and prove I can compete for medals.”
Luke Nuttall had no shortage of advice when he arrived in Tokyo.
He is coached by his mother, double Olympian Alison Wyeth, his father is Commonwealth Games bronze medallist John Nuttall, his stepmother is former world champion Liz McColgan and his stepsister Eilish McColgan, recently returned from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
All told him to relax and enjoy the experience but the 19-year old confessed he didn’t exactly follow their advice.
“Before the race I got myself into the mentality of going for a medal, perhaps I put too much pressure on myself,” he said, after finishing ninth in the men’s 1500m T45 final in a time of 4:02.65.
“My immediate emotion is disappointment, I’m just gutted right now but Paris is only three years away and I’ll be just 22.”
Courtesy of ParalympicsGB
