21 August 2015

Top international para athletes are heading to Coventry this weekend for the Godiva Classic, a British Athletics Parallel Success incorporated event, with one eye on selection for the IPC World Athletics Championships taking place in October.  

Some of the athletes in action include London 2012 gold medallists Hannah Cockroft (coach: Jenni Banks), Jonnie Peacock (Steve Fudge) and David Weir (Jenny Archer) along with rising star, 15 year old Marie Lyle (Tabo Huntley) who is a double IPC European champion in the T35 100 and 200m. 

Sunday’s ‘blue ribbon’ event will be the women’s T34 100m where Coventry based Cockcroft is set to go head to head with domestic rivals Mel Nicholls (Job King) and 14 year old Kare Adenegan (King). The World and European champion will also compete in the 200m, 400m and 800m as she tunes up for October’s World Championships.

Multiple Paralympic champion Weir will line up in 1500m, his first race since the IPC Grand Prix in July. T44 100m Paralympic, world and European champion Peacock is also expected to feature in the Midlands with Libby Clegg (Joseph McDonnell) and her guide Mikail Huggins taking part in the T12 100m.

Sammi Kinghorn, who claimed three gold medals at the IPC European championships last year, competes in the T53 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m with European bronze medallist Gemma Prescott competing in the F32 club throw. There are a whole host of Doha prospects competing including Jade Jones (Ian Thompson and Tanni Grey-Thompson), Mo Jomni (Archer), Erin McBride (Robert Roberts) and Ben Rowlings (King) to name a few.

The ‘Godiva Classic’ was first held in the build up to London 2012 to provide world class competition opportunities for wheelchair athletes. The event has rapidly grown into one of Europe’s premier wheelchair racing events. Last year some 250 athletes, including 70 wheelchair competitors, took to the track over two days of competition.

The two day event is hosted by Coventry Godiva with events scheduled on Saturday from 3.30pm until 8pm and on Sunday 10am until 4.30pm.