Canada won its first two medals in athletics competition at the Paralympic Games today, both podium performances coming within 10-minutes of each other. Alister McQueen of Calgary, Alta., got things started with a silver medal performance in the F44 javelin, a short time later, Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., crossed the line first in the T53 wheelchair 100-metres.
Lakatos won gold in the T53 wheelchair 100-metres in a time of 14.44 seconds. It’s Lakatos’ first gold medal at the Paralympic Games after winning three silver medals at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. "This morning I was so nervous. Everybody were racing to amazing times. Then I remembered, sitting in my room, that I was fast and that they should be nervous. That did help a little bit but not a lot. I got to the line so focused. I had a good start then after 30 m I could see in my peripheral vision that they were falling behind slightly and I told myself to just hold on, and I made it. This is amazing!"
Alister McQueen won silver in the F44 classification javelin with a best throw of 55.56-metres. McQueen actually improved the Canadian record twice in the final to secure silver. He was around tenth place when he unleashed the first Canadian record of 53.86-metres vaulting himself onto the podium. He then improved on that mark to win silver. “I have dreamt about this, but to turn that dream into a reality, the last six months we knew we could achieve it if we put things together. And now… it is simply amazing."
Ness Murby of Salt Spring Island, B.C., placed sixth in the F11 discus final with a best throw of 28.02-metres. "I am not satisfied with the result, but I applaud the competition. There were some amazing personal bests in that final. I look forward to representing Canada again."
Josh Cassidy of Guelph, Ont., raced to a time of 10:27.94 in the first heat of the T54 wheelchair 5000-metres, "It was good to get out there and get the first one out of the way. I got tangled up a couple of times. I am happy to get through."
In the day’s morning session Brent Lakatos, the World Record holder in the T53 classification wheelchair 100-metres, advanced to the final by winning heat three in a Paralympic Games record of 14.43. Each of the three heats actually featured the winner crossing the finish line in a new Paralympic Record time. “I was really excited to get out there. My start went really well and I was able to relax in the second half of the race. I won’t be able to do that tonight (in the final), but I will be ready for it.”
Jean-Philippe Maranda was sixth in the first heat of the T53 wheelchair 100-metres in a time of 16.02, he did not qualify for the final, “I was a little nervous, it was my first time in such a large stadium. My start was good but I could not get up to my usual speed. The ice is broken; it will be better for my upcoming events.”
Day 3 preview
Michelle Stilwell of Parksville, B.C., will get things started on day three of the Paralympic Games. Stilwell races at 10:04 ET in the final of the T52 classification wheelchair 400-metres.
At 11:31 ET Ilana Dupont of Saskatoon, Sask., races in the T53 classification wheelchair 400-metre heats.
Brent Lakatos and Jean-Philippe Maranda are back on the track in the heats of the men’s T53 wheelchair 400-metres at 17:43 ET.
Mitchell Chase of Pickering, Ont., races in the T38 final of the 1500-metres at 18:20 ET.
For more information, a complete schedule of events and more visit Athletics Canada’s Paralympic Games Hub page.
