BRITS EXCEL AT THE JESOLO WPA GRAND PRIX

A host of British athletes got their summer season’s underway at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Jesolo, Italy across the three days of competition.

Day one – Friday 12 May

In one of the last races of the day, Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie, Team East Lothian) ran a season best of 15.07 (-1.1) as she opened the Grand Prix in the 100m.

In the field, Paralympic champion Dan Pembroke (David Turner) made an impressive start to his 2023 season as he won the F11-13 javelin competition with his second-round throw measuring in at 63.33m. It was a solid series for the Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow athlete whose other valid throws came in at 62.90m, 62.46m, 62.75m and 63.13m.

Paralympic champion Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) ran 11.48 (1.8) on his way to victory in the T38 100m, while James Ledger (Matt Elias, DSW Para Academy) faced a strong headwind in his 100m heat; the T11 athlete clocking 12.08 (-1.2) for fourth in his race.

Steven Bryce (Tommy Boyle, Victoria Park City of Glasgow) was the top British finisher in the T20 1500m as he ran 4:08.28 for seventh overall. His compatriots, Daniel Wolff (Dave Mitchell, Epsom & Ewell) and Kieran O’Hara (Patrick Gahagan, Havering), were ninth and tenth respectively with times of 4:17.54 and 4:18.89.

In the T20 long jump, Scottish athlete Steve Stone jumped a best of 5.77m (-1.7) in tricky conditions. The Forth Valley Flyers athlete opened his season with a mark of 6.14m in Coventry last month.

Elsewhere in the jumps, Barney Corrall (Aston Moore, Charnwood) built on his encouraging indoor season with 5.50m for fifth in the T36-38 competition.

Prince Reid (David Liston) maintained his consistent start to the 2023 outdoor season with a time of 52.48 in his heat. With times of 52.12 and 52.43 so far this campaign, it was another solid result for the Blackheath and Bromley athlete.

In the T47 400m, European silver medallist John Bridge (Darrell Maynard, Cardiff) was fifth in a time of 53.47. In the women’s T46 event, Debbie O’Connell (Emma Burgon-Kisby, Lincoln Wellington) posted a time of 1:06.46.

Sophie Kamlish (Rob Ellchuk, Bristol & West) recorded a season best as she ran 13.90 (-1.1) in the T64 100m,

Day two – Saturday 13 May

Harrison Walsh (Nathan Stephens, Swansea) [F44] threw the third furthest throw of his career with a mark of 55.83m to win the mixed classification discus throw competition. The Commonwealth and European medallist made the mark on his fifth effort. His series included valid throws of 54.94m, 54.80m, 53.66m and 51.94m.

Also in the field, Luke Sinnott (Roger Keller, Bournemouth) [T61] went in the mixed classification long jump, jumping 6.08m (1.0) in the fourth round which sealed him sixth place.

Sunday 14 May 

Maria Lyle returned to the track for the 200m on Sunday as she clocked a time of 31.00 (0.5) to win the  T35-38 200m. It was another season best for the Scottish athlete.

Also going in the ambulant 200m, Debbie O’Connell (T46) finished second in her heat in a time of 29.41 (0.7).

Results