25 August 2010

Jade Jones (coach: Ian Thompson/Tanni Grey-Thompson) and Dan Lucker (coach: Jenny Archer) won their sixth medals of the IWAS World Junior Championships in Olomouc, Czech Republic today (Wednesday 25 August), concluding an outstanding track campaign with five gold medals and one silver each and spearheading the Aviva Great Britain and Northern Ireland team to an incredible medal total of 43.

Jones – following victories in T54 100, 200m, 400m 800m, 1500m – finished as runner-up in the women’s 5000m in 13:59.63.

“It was awesome to win all of those medals, especially after all the help and support I’ve had from my coaches and my family,” said the Aviva GB & NI debutant. “This competition has definitely spurred me on to train even harder and to get better.”

Matching the brilliant achievement of Jones and finishing his own campaign on a high, Lucker won the men’s T54 5000m in 13.40.03 to secure his fifth gold medal of the Championships, his sixth in total after a second place finish in the 800m.

“After missing a large chunk of the winter due to illness I was just happy to be competing this year,” said Lucker,” who also praised the support of his coach and his family. “To finish this week of with six medals is a really great end to the season.”

Not to be outdone, Scott Moorhouse (coach: Shelley Quarin) – making his event debut on the final day of competition – finished second in the F42 men’s javelin with a mark of 41.07m.

"The competition has been a resounding success with the Aviva GB & NI team achieving a huge medal haul and numerous personal best performances," said Team Leader Paula Dunn, UKA’s Paralympic Performance Manager. "I would like to say a big thank you to all the team coaches – Keith Antoine (speed), Anthony Hughes (throws) and Jenny Archer (wheelchair racing) and all the medical staff for their tremendous efforts before, during and after the event.”

Full results can be found on the official event website at: http://www.iwas2010.org/index.html