28th August 2019

PARIS IS THE FINAL STOP IN THE WORLD PARA ATHLETICS GRAND PRIX SERIES

The World Para Athletics Grand Prix will be commencing on Thursday in Paris, with 27 British representatives ready to take to the track and field in the final event of the series.

Double European champion Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell; Charnwood) is headlining the men’s T38 100m as the favourite to win the gold. This year has seen the youngster run faster than ever with a personal best of 11.25, shaving nearly fourth-tenths off his 2018 best, and making him the third fastest man in the 2019 rankings.

At the World Para Athletics Grand Prix held in Grosseto in June, Young took the 200m win by just under a second, so will be using this event as key preparation for this November’s World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

Libby Clegg (Joseph McDonnell; Charnwood) will be making her first international appearance this season following the birth of her son and will compete in the T11 200m with guide Tom Somers (Benke Blomkvist; Newham & Essex Beagles). Last weekend saw Clegg compete in her first race this year, clocking 29.64 (-1.0) in the 200m on her home track in Charnwood.

Doubling up in the sprint events will be Maria Lyle (Jamie Bowie; Team East Lothian) who is competing in the T35 100m and 200m. The Paralympic, World and European medallist is determined is on form to do so after clocking world leading times in both events this year; her most recent being a 14.43 (+1.3) 100m in Birmingham earlier this month.

Zac Shaw (Leon Baptiste; Cleethorpes) will also be testing his sprinting abilities in the T12 men’s equivalents. A European gold medallist in the 4x100m relay last year, Shaw improved her personal best over the 100m to 11.10 earlier this season.

The women’s 400m T38 event will see a British head-to-head for the top spot, with Kadeena Cox (Matt Cullen; Sale Harriers Manchester) facing Ali Smith (Chris Zah; Guildford & Godalming).

As the world record holder and Paralympic champion over the distance, Cox has the fastest time between them with 1:00.71. However, this will be her first 400m race since becoming world champion in 2017. Smith – European silver medallist – has the third fastest time in the line-up this year with a personal best of 1:04.54.

Also competing will be European T33 100m champion Harri Jenkins (Anthony Hughes; DSW Para Academy) and Mo Jomni (Jenny Archer; Weir Archer Academy), a multiple European medallist.

Find full start lists and results here.