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Paralympian Michal Burian snared the silver medal with his last throw of a hotly contested Javelin F64 competition on Day 5 at the World Para Athletics Championships, as sprinters Rhiannon Clarke and Ella Pardy limbered up for the 200m T36 Final on a big day ahead for the Australian team in Paris.
Burian unleashed a 65.21m missile in the sixth and final round to jag second place, repeating his feat at Tokyo 2020 where he threw 66.20m also in the final round to capture silver.
“I need to change the strategy. The strategy of doing it with the last throw is pretty stressful, man! It’s like déjà vu from Tokyo,” he said.
Gold went to India’s Sumit Antil, who launched a 70.83m F64 world record in the first round. Burian overcame Dulan Kodithuwakku from Sri Lanka whose best was 64.09m.
“The goal is to throw further and chase that 70m mark,” Burian said.
“I definitely had more in me, I didn’t have one clean throw which is a bit of a shame. It didn’t all line up, there is definitely a little more in the tank. If it all clicks, it will go.”
Another day, another medal for the Aussies. 🥳 🥈Well done Michal Burian we are proud to call you Aussie! 💚💛#ThisIsAthletics@AUSParalympics @CommGamesAUS pic.twitter.com/7ClsHgDiLD
— Athletics Australia (@AthsAust) July 13, 2023
A highlight of Day 6 will be the 200m T36 Final, in which training partners Clarke and Pardy should compete confidently after they finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 100m T38.
“Running an equal personal best, Australian and Oceania record in the 100m gives me confidence that I am in career-best form and will be able to run a quick time,” Clarke said.
“Finishing fourth there has made me more determined to go out there for the 200m, I know I have it in me. “Returning to the podium would be amazing and I am definitely pushed, running with the T38 girls, it shows how competitive this sport is becoming.”
Pardy’s personal best of 27.28 seconds places her as a live chance in the compact field.
Watch the World Para Athletics World Championships live on 9Now.
Wheelchair racer Samuel Rizzo will line up for the 1500m T54 Final after advancing in 3:19.57 to rank ninth in the field of 10.
Two-time Shot Put F38 world champion Cameron Crombie trades the circle for the runway as he contests an event on the Paralympic program, the Long Jump T38, keeping his dream of a Paralympic debut alive at age 37.
Annabelle Colman is poised for her World Championships debut in the 1500m T20. The teenager is on the cusp of eclipsing Patricia Whittaker’s Australian record of 4:45.65 which has stood since 2000. Colman’s personal best of 4:49.30 ranks her fourth in the field of 10 this year.
Rosemary Little and Sarah Clifton-Bligh compete in the Shot Put F32 after the previous day’s 100m T34, with Paralympic medallist Little one of five athletes in the field to have cleared six metres this year.
Already a 2023 world champion in the 400m T36, James Turner begins his tilt at the 100m T36 and teenage duo Mali Lovell and Abby Craswell will chase consecutive Finals spots in the 200m T36 after impressing on debut in the 100m T36.
Read: Day 1 Wrap – ‘Flying’ Strong Strikes Gold, De Rozario Set For Track Return
Read: Day 2 Wrap – ‘Gutsy Clifford Wins Silver, Turner Breezes Into 400m Final’
Read: Day 3 Wrap – Aussie Speedsters Flex At World Athletics Championships
Read: Day 4 Wrap – Burian Idolised Zelezny, Now Seeks Javelin Gold For Australia
By: Athletics Australia and Paralympics Australia
Posted: 14 July 2023
