Join AUS Squad
Back To News
An Oceania area record and two athletes making their Paralympic debut summed up the Australian team’s action in Day 1 of the track-and-field competition at the Paris Games.
Four-time Paralympian Rosemary Little threw a season’s best 16.65 metres in the women’s club throw (F32) to claim the Oceania record. She finished 14th in a field of 16 finalists.
“I had them (Oceania records) in T34 and T33 for (track) racing, so I didn’t realise I’ve now got it for a field event. It’s nice to know that,” Little said.
Twenty-four year-old Sarah Clifton-Bligh made her Paralympic debut in the same event to finish 16th. Both women now have the shot put final on Wednesday.
Second ‘newbie’ for the night was wheelchair track racer Sam Rizzo, also 24, in the heats of the men’s 5000m (T54). He finished sixth in his heat (11min:19.32sec), 12th overall, but only the top five from each heat progressed to the final.
“I’ve been trying to make this step up (to 5000m) and even though it wasn’t the result I wanted tonight, I’m pretty happy how the race went,” he said.
“It was very tactical and I made some brave decisions … I didn’t get stuck so I felt I had a good dig.”
Rizzo has the 1500m and 800m to come later in the Paris athletics program.
One of the senior campaigners on the team and Australia’s joint flag bearer, Madison de Rozario made her first appearance, competitively anyway, in Paris.
She finished fifth in the T54 5000m final in Tokyo but is second-fastest qualifier after the heats in Paris behind the reigning Paralympic champion Susannah Scaroni (USA).
Saturday’s final hopefully will be run in better conditions than the rain and drizzle that accompanied the athletes over 12 laps today.
De Rozario got into a rhythm early with Switzerland’s Patricia Eachus and Scaroni. The trio broke from the pack after three laps so there wasn’t a lot of jostling for positions to be done.
“I just wanted my race to be as clear as possible and it was kind of perfect that way. You want to be solidly in that top five as early as possible so you can get the race done.
“Our gloves are rubber and the pushing rim is also rubber … so you slip if those get wet.
“Everyone has a different approach like sandpaper, but I use the kind of hand powder you saw Nina Kennedy use on her pole vault. It gives me the kind of stickiness I need.”
Two-time Paralympian Corey Anderson’s first throw in the men’s javelin (F38) final was his best – at 49.34 metres, and just shy of his season best.
But it placed him sixth at the finish after he surrendered the bronze medal spot in the third round.
The 24 year-old threw 54.48m in Tokyo to finish fourth – that distance would have netted him silver in Paris. But he’s been troubled by a niggling injury.
“The shoulder,” he said pointing to his right joint in his throwing arm.
“It’s started a few years ago and just seems to be getting worse. I just need to manage it and keep building and strengthening the muscles around it.
“I’m still so proud to compete but even more special is that my family is allowed to come this time,” he of his young son Alex and his parents who were eight rows back in the stands. No families or spectators were allowed at the Covid-affected Tokyo Games, where Anderson made his debut.
Sam McIntosh was the first Australian to compete in the Stade de France, which had been bathed in sunshine for the past week but endured some heavy showers just as McIntosh wheeled onto the track.
McIntosh’s 1min:10.33 for the men’s 400m (T52) wheelchair class had him sixth in his heat and 11th overall, missing tonight’s final.
“It was a bit of surprise. Just when we went into the Call Room it started raining, so it was a race to get the wet weather gear out,” he said, adding the sight and noise of the large crowd made up for the dreary conditions.
“It hasn’t been that loud since London. It was exactly what we were hoping for in Tokyo, which didn’t happen. But to get it here is an incredible feeling.”
Heats for McIntosh’s pet event – the 100m – are a week away (Friday September 6).
Australian Results Day 1 Para-athletics:
MEN
400m T52: Sam McIntosh 11th (1min:10.33sec)
Javelin F38: Corey Anderson 6th (49.35 metres)
WOMEN
5000m T54: Madison de Rozario Heat 1, 2nd (11m:43.64s) Qualified for final.
5000m T54: Sam Rizzo 12th (11m:19.32)
Club Throw F32: Rosemary Little 14th (16.65m); Sarah Clifton-Bligh 16th (14.70m)
Watch the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on the 9Network and 9Now live and free, and on Stan Sport till September 8
By: Margie McDonald, Paralympics Australia
Published: 30 August 2024
