Athletics Australia – News – PARALYMPICS: Cartwright wins GOLD and Dawes a BRONZE

 

Kelly Cartwright (Vic) has become Australia’s golden girl of athletics on day three of track and field at the 2012 London Paralympic Games, with a world record leap of 4.38m (1030 points*, w: -0.5) ensuring first place in the F42/44 long jump for athletes with deficiency in their legs.

The world champion coming into today’s event, Cartwright faced stiff competition from local favourite Stef Reid (GBR, second, 1023 points) across her six jump series of 3.98m, 4.16m, her best mark, 4.29m, 4.32m and a foul. The bronze medal was won by Marie-Amelie le Fur (FRA, third, 1010 points).

Cartwright said: “I really had to watch what Stef was doing out there, she was a tough competitor. Lucky for me though I jumped last in the final three rounds so it was a bit of a surreal feeling standing at the top of the runway with a jump to go knowing that I was the Paralympic champion.

“I was so nervous heading out there. This experience was much different to Beijing where I flew under the radar a bit, here I was one of the top ranked athletes and I needed to make sure that I performed to the best of my ability to prove that I deserve that title as one of the favourites.

“My coach Tim Matthews and I knew that I had the world record in me, I have been jumping it in training but major champs are a completely different ball game. This was definitely the toughest competition that I have been apart of.

“Tim is the reason I am here, I can’t thank him enough. I rely on him so much when I am out there. I hang on his every word. I trust him so much and we won this medal together. I wouldn’t be where I am without him and knowing that he has experience like this under his belt is such a great thing to look up to ahead of competition.”

Cartwright will now turn her attention to the T42 100m, an event she starts in as one of the favourites having earlier this year improved the world record in the event. Victory in the short sprint will see Cartwright replicate the two-medal haul she won at the IPC Athletics World Championships last year and ensure the perfect result at this her second Paralympic Games.

Cartwright added: “The 100m is going to be a completely different ball game. The girls in that event are tough and I am going to need to recover well from this event to make sure that I am in shape.

“Another medal would be fantastic, but to do that I am going to need to be at the top of my game”
 
Christie Dawes (NSW), meanwhile, added a BRONZE medal on the track in a time of 12:28.24 after a scintillating race to the finish in the closing stages of the women’s T54 wheelchair 5000m.

Competing at her fifth Paralympic Games, today’s medal winning performance is her first as an individual and her second Paralympic medal after winning silver in the 4x100m relay in Beijing (CHN) four years ago.

Dawes said: “I thought if I came here and made the final I would be doing really well, and I did that as 5th fastest despite a crash in the semi-final which was a great result. Today I just wanted to keep myself close to the front and stay out of trouble, that’s the way it played out and I think in the end keeping calm and not panicking paid off.

“I was a little bit worried about where I placed coming into the final stages, but the way that the girls moved allowed me to get off the rail and push forward. I knew that I had the sprint if I was given the chance and luckily the clear run fell my way.

“I said to the girls outside that you get really hungry for an individual accolade when you have been to five Games and not won one, I am just thrilled that it has happened and honestly could not be happier.”

Dawes’ time was a season best and these Games mark her return to international competition after taking time off and missing last year’s IPC Athletics World Championships to give birth to her now 19-month old son Charlie.

Dawes continued: “The other great thing for me is that I have been able to share this medal with my son who is here to see my race. He is such a beautiful little boy and I think that having him has made me stronger and no doubt assisted in me winning this medal.

“I can’t wait to find him and the rest of my family to share this moment with them. It’s been such a big journey to here and they are as much a part of this success as anyone.”

In other results on day three of athletics at the 2012 London Paralympic Games:
–       Jessica Gallagher (Vic), who is visually impaired, finished sixth in the women’s F12/13 javelin throw with a best mark of 33.56m. Opening her account with 32.03m, the VIS scholarship holder then threw her best mark, 31.34m, 26.78m, 33.25m and 33.30m.
–       Discus bronze medallist Katherine Proudfoot (ACT) narrowly missed a second medal in the F35/36 shot put for athletes with cerebral palsy, placing fourth after a 9.76m hurl on her final attempt. Proudfoot threw 9.21m in round one, and then backed up with 9.24m, a foul, 8.49m, 9.63m and her best effort to close.
–       Ten-time Paralympic gold medallist Tim Sullivan (Vic) progressed through to the round of eight in the men’s T38 400m for athletes with cerebral palsy after clocking a season best 53.67 to secure his spot as the fastest non-automatic qualifier.
–       In a time of 49.79, Richard Colman (Vic) has advanced as the second fastest qualifier for the final of the men’s T53 wheelchair 400m, while Sam McIntosh (Vic) narrowly missed the T52 wheelchair 100m final by finishing ninth overall (time: 18.70, SB)

For more information on the 2012 London Paralympic Games, including results and detailed athlete profiles, please visit the Australian Paralympic Committee website by clicking here.

* As a combined class event, points are awarded for jumps recorded and medals are awarded to the highest point scorers.

 

Athletics Australia – News