7th June 2024

KINGHORN AND MAGUIRE AMONG THOSE IN FORM AT SWISS MEET

There were some fine performances on day two of the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland, with Sammi Kinghorn (Rodger Harkins, Red Star) and Nathan Maguire (Steve Hoskins, Kirkby AC) among those enjoying impressive displays.

Going under 52 second for only the second time in her career, Kinghorn was delighted with a 51.83 time in the women’s T53 400m. Kinghorn, who set a PB of 51.65 back in February at the WPA Grand Prix in Dubai, picked up where she left off in her first race since then. She renewed her battles with Catherine Debrunner with the Swiss taking the win in 50.19 and the double Paralympic medallist second in one of the fastest times of her career.

Nathan Maguire (Steve Hoskins, Kirkby AC) took the scalp of multiple Paralympic champion Marcel Hug (SUI) in the men’s T54 400m in a time of 46.66. Tunisia’s Yassine Gharbi narrowly took the race victory with a time of 46.65, with Hug third in 46.76. In the same heat, Danny Sidbury (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District) clocked a time of 48.24.

Sidbury returned to the track later in the day to contest the 5000m, and he pushed serenely to bag second behind Hug over 12.5 laps. The Swiss teared away to win in a time of 9:29:82 with the Briton closely following in 9:49:38 with a significant margin back to the rest of the field.

David Weir (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) was third in 10:01.86 with Michael McCabe (Christine Parsloe, Sutton & District) 14th in 11:46:89.

There was a third win in three days for Hannah Cockroft (Paul Moseley, Leeds) as she conquered the T34 400m in 56.46, with her compatriot Fabienne Andre (Richard Chiassaro, Harlow) third in 1:03.21, not far outside her lifetime best which stands at 1:02.91.

In the ambulant sprints, T38 100m world silver medallist Thomas Young (Joe McDonnell, Charnwood) was back in competitive action over the short sprint again, running away to a time of 11.16 (0.3).

In the women’s T38 100m, Sophie Hahn (Leon Baptiste, Charnwood) was in season best form as she won in a time of 12.86 (-0.8), while Olivia Breen (Aston Moore, City of Portsmouth)  was third in 13.29 behind Germany’s Lindy Ave.