Medal Success for WA Talent at World Para-Athletics Champs
WA’s elite track and field talent competing at the World Para-Athletics Championships in London have made a successful start to competition winning three medals.
On the track, NSW-based wheelchair racer Madison de Rozario and Chad Perris – who trains in Canberra – both earned bronze medals in their opening competition events, before World Champs debutant Sarah Edmiston claimed bronze in the F44 discus.
De Rozario won her second consecutive bronze medal in the T54 1500m (3.25:56s), and is prouder than ever of her result, having competed against a full field of competitors.
“That was incredible. I won a bronze in this event in Doha, but two of the quickest women weren’t there at the time, so to do that again in a full field was great, and a lot of fun,” de Rozario said.
“It was a messy race, there were a lot of different tactics going and we were all floating around in the middle for a while there, but I’m glad I could catch a good wheel and make a strong finish. I think it’s given me some confidence going into my 5000m in four days’ time.”
Vision impaired Perris, who is known by the nickname “White Tiger” claimed bronze in the men’s 100m T13 final, clocking in at 10.96s – the exact time he ran two years ago in Doha.
Running in second place for the majority of the race, Perris crossed the line just 0.01s behind Poland’s Mateusz Michalski, who came second to four-time world champion Jason Smyth (IRE).
“This was a real learning experience for Chad. There were four or five competitors in his race that could have won silver or bronze, but Chad came through to finish in third place,” Perris’ coach, Iryna Dvoskina said.
Perris also cruised through his 200m T13 heat in third position (22.43s) to qualify for tomorrow’s final.
Perris, who won the silver medal in the event in Doha in 2015, said he was confident of a good result in the medal race.
“I knew I had to be first three to get through, and I was pretty conservative in the last 60m so I know I’ve got a lot to give tomorrow. I think I can pull out a better race to what I did last night (100m T13), and I’m ready to go out there and put my best foot in.”
Whilst in the field, Sarah Edmiston made a bold impression on her competitive bow at international level, taking third place in the F44 discus final.
The former water-skier turned F44 discus thrower came close to her season best, throwing 33.80m in her third attempt to secure a place on the dais.
“It’s a little bit unreal to win a medal at my first World Championships. It’s amazing to wear this uniform, and to do that and perform well is something extra,” Edmiston said.
Ella Pardy raced in the T38 200m for athletes with neurological impairment, and placed fifth in a highly competitive final.