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Paralympics Contents:  Paralympics 2004

20:49 GMT, Sunday, 11 May 2008 21:49 UK

Weir in double track gold success

Paralympic World Cup
Date:
Wed 7-Sun 11 May Venue: Manchester
Coverage: Daily reports and photos on bbc.co.uk/sport. Coverage on Sunday 11 May BBC TWO 1600-1745 BST

By Elizabeth Hudson
BBC Sport in Manchester

Weir

London Marathon winner Dave Weir continued his good start to the season with double gold success on the final day of the Paralympic World Cup.

Weir claimed success in the T54 400 and 1500m at Manchester's Regional Arena as he transferred the form he showed on the London streets to the track.

There was also a win for Ian Jones in the T44 400m and the athlete went on to take bronze in the 100m.

Danny West and Chris Martin won the seated shot putt and seated discus.

Watch highlights on iPlayer (available until 18 May, UK only)

Weir was in imperious form in the 1500m, pulling away from the rest of the field with 400m to put in a powerful sprint finish and win in a time of three minutes 14.87 seconds.

He was challenged by Lixin Zhang in the shorter race but won in 48.57 seconds with the Chinese athlete second in 49.13.

"This competition is just the beginning of the track season for me "
Dave Weir

"This competition is just the beginning of the track season for me and the conditions were very good," he said afterwards.

"It's a good chance to see what the other athletes are doing and the Chinese athlete was closing on me but I know I have more to come.

"I was within a second of the world record in the 800m at Stoke Mandeville on Saturday so I am in good form which is encouraging as I head out to Beijing later this week for a test event which will be tough."

West, who threw a personal best, managed a throw of 11.13m in the shot, just 3cm short of Hamish McDonald's F34 category world record.

"I didn't expect to throw a personal best today but I'm delighted with it," he told BBC Sport.

"I just stayed calm and did what my coach was telling me to do but this is just a stepping stone towards Beijing.

"Beijing would be my fourth Games and having so much experience helps but it doesn't mean you don't get nervous."

Martin, who won gold in Sydney but retired from the sport after Athens before returning last year, was also delighted with his winning throw of 27.93m.

"I beat the world record holder in my class which is pleasing and I am where I want to be at this point of the year," he said.

There were a pair of silvers for Graeme Ballard in the T36 100 and 200m where he finished behind world record holder and Paralympic champion Wai Wai So of Hong Kong.

"It was awesome to come second to the world champion and I know in Beijing he will have a battle on his hands. Knowing you are improving is important."

There was disappointment for Paralympic champion Stephen Miller who was beaten to gold in the last throw of the F32/51 club event.

Miller had managed a best throw of 31.42 but Tunisia's Mourad Idoudi threw 32.59 with his final effort to snatch gold.

Wheelchair racer Shelly Woods recovered from a disappointing race in the 1500m with bronze behind American duo Amanda McGrory and Jessica Galli in the 800m.

There was a new world record in the T12/13 100m as partially sighted Irish sprinter Jason Smyth beat his own world record of 10.86 with a new time of 10.85.

The Derry man set the old mark on his way to winning gold at the 2006 World Championships in Assen

"It's nice to run a good time in the first race of the season," said the 21-year-old, who will now be targeting gold in the 100 and 200m in Beijing.

"Although I am surprised at setting the new record, I know I can run quicker as the season goes on."


GB medallists

Gold: Dave Weir (T54 400 and 1500m) Ian Jones (T44 400m) Danny West (seated shot put) Chris Martin (seated discus)

Silver: Graeme Ballard (T36 100 and 200m) Neil Fachie (T12/13 400m) Stephen Miller (F32/51 club) Bev Jones (F 37/38 shot put)

Bronze:Neil Fachie (T12/13 100m) Tracey Hinton (T11/12 100 and 200m) Shelly Woods (T54 800m) Richard Schabel (seated discus and F32/51 club) Ian Jones (T44 200m)




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