A disappointing disqualification finished Day 8 of the the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships.
Canada’s 4x100 metre universal relay team of Bianca Borgella, Marissa Papaconstantinou, Zach Gingras and Austin Smeenk crossed the finish line in first place, but the world title was not to be as the squad was disqualified after a bad exchange on the last leg, when Gingras approached Smeenk.
“I’m not sure if I went early, or if I had a bigger, more powerful start than we anticipated,” Smeenk said. “Either way, we didn’t manage to make the exchange in the final handoff and it’s not a very proud moment.
“Our team has limited practice time, so we’re just getting started and work to put together a good relay for next year,” Gingras said.
“I think we just showed that Canada is fully capable of being on top of the podium in the relay,” said Papaconstantinou. “Hopefully in Paris next year, we can show the world that that is where we belong.”
Earlier in the day, Smeenk booked his spot in tomorrow’s men’s T34 800 metre final with a personal best, Canadian record and Americas record time of 1:38.10. That sizzling time was good for second in his heat.
Nathalie Thirsk advanced to tomorrow’s women’s T38 400 metre final without racing today, due to a DNS in her category reducing the field to eight athletes, who will all race on the final day of competition in Paris.
Cody Fournie took 5th place in the men’s T51 100 metres final, registering a time of 22.94 seconds after having some difficulties with his chair. Fournie booked his spot in the final earlier in the day, when he finished 2nd in his heat with a time of 21.86 seconds.
“I’ve definitely got to get the chair dialed in. For some reason, it keeps going to the left. I’m really disappointed with that, because I thought we had dialed it in and done a bunch of straighs.” Fournie said. “I felt really confident going into the race, so that really upset me.”
Anthony Bouchard finished 8th in the men’s T12 100 metre final, clocking in with a time of 18.89 seconds.
“The chair was pulling to the right, so I had to fight it from the beginning,” Bouchard said. “I’m taking away a little more experience, so I’m going to get ready better for the next one.”
Jesse Zesseu did not register a throw in the men’s F37 discus final.
“I’m just really disappointed. There’s no one to blame but me,” Zesseu said. “I’m not going to make any excuses. I should have done well today and I didn’t. Now it’s a one-track mind, in terms of getting back to this stage and doing well. I have a hunger now that I didn’t have before.”
