World
Record for Jason Smyth at Manchester Games
City of Derry athlete Jason Smyth was Ireland’s
only Track & Field gold medalist at the Paralympic World
Cup in Manchester.
Over 400 of the World’s best disabled athletes
were in the English city for the fourth annual celebration of
the event which was covered live on BBC2 television.
Smyth who is favourite to win the sprint double
in his category in Beijing cruised to a comfortable victory
in the 100 metres. Despite running into a slight headwind his
time of 10.85 seconds was a new World Record for the distance
in the T13 (partially sighted) category.
Second place went to Poland’s Mateusz in 11.29
with Neil Fachie from Britain taking the bronze medal in 11.52
seconds.
“Jason was a bit anxious with it being his
first competition of a very important year but he ran well especially
into the wind. He’ll be able to settle down to some more serious
races in the next couple of months to get ready for Beijing,”
said Smyth’s coach Stephen Maguire after the race.
Interviewed by Steve Cram on BBC Jason was
less forthcoming but promised that “there was a lot more to
come”.
Derek Malone added a second medal for Ireland
when he took third in the T38 400 metres with a time of 55.97
seconds.
Malcolm McCausland
