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After a day with no medals and only limited finals action, seven Australians will compete in six finals on Saturday at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium – the last day of track and field competition at the 2020 Games.
Only the Marathon around Tokyo’s city streets on Sunday – Day 10- is left to complete the Paralympic Athletics program.
Four Australians in action have had to wait until the very last day to strut their stuff – long jumper Nicholas Hum (F20), middle distance runners Dan Bounty and Deon Kenzie in the 1500m (T38), and discus thrower Samantha Schmidt (F38) – one of three indigenous athletes on the 179-strong Australian Paralympic Games team.
The other three athletes who came through their Friday heats successfully for today’s finals are James Turner in the 100m (T36), Rheed McCracken 800m (T34) and Rhiannon Clarke 400m (T38), who shattered her PB by almost two seconds and set a new national record.
Turner is aiming to become the first double-gold medallist in Tokyo among the Australian athletics team after his 400m win on Tuesday.
McCracken is also after a second medal following his 100m silver on Monday.
Clarke is into her second Paralympic final at her maiden Games, after finishing 5th in the 100m on Saturday. She passed three runners in the straight in last night’s heats to seal her new national 400m record of 1:02.65. She is seventh-fastest in tonight’s final.
Hum finished 5th in the long jump in Rio 2016 and 5th at the 2017 London world championships.
Schmidt and Bounty are at their first Paralympics, but Kenzie has medals from his last three majors: silver in the 1500m in Rio, gold in the event at the 2017 worlds in London and bronze in the 2019 worlds in Dubai.
Watch the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games live and free on Seven and 7plus from August 24 – September 5.
Athletics – Day 9 (all times AEST)
800m (T34) Final: Rheed McCracken – 10.55am
100m (T36) Final: James Turner – 11.38am
Long Jump (F20) Final: Nicholas Hum – 8pm
1500m (T38) Final: Dan Bounty, Deon Kenzie – 8.15pm
Discus Throw ((F38) Final: Samantha Schmidt – 8.35pm
400m (T38) Final: Rhiannon Clarke – 9.38pm
By: Margie McDonald, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 4 September 2021
