11 September 2016 

A trio of ParalympicsGB athletes were in finals action on the fourth morning of action in Rio, with Rhys Jones (coach: Christian Malcolm) and Kyron Duke (Anthony Hughes) both placing sixth in their respective events, with the latter throwing a personal best in the F41 javelin.

Duke enjoyed an impressive series in the javelin, improving every round before setting a personal best of 39.30m in round five. He steadily improved throughout the competition, setting a season best from round two onwards. However, his best effort was over 50cm further than his previous lifetime best set at the London Paralympic Games in 2012.

Duke said: “I can’t ask for anything better, it is not a medal but it is as good as. I have done my best and come out at the top of my game. Four years later at a Games again, I’ve thrown even further and I couldn’t be happier. It’s been a great Games to be part of and I am proud to be here doing what I do.

“I’m really looking forward to the World Championship back at home next year and then I’ve got my eyes set on Tokyo 2020. I’m hungry for it – I’m getting closer and closer. I threw a PB today so it is going to come. Not everyone gets what they want straight away, things take time. But I have the determination and will put in the hard work to get there.”

After recording a personal best in the heats yesterday, Jones set a time of 11.94 (-0.7 m/s) on his way to a sixth place finish in the T37 100m. Although he could not find the form of the previous day, it was another impressive sub-12 clocking by the GB athlete who has faced injury woes since competing at London 2012.

Jones reflected on the Games: “To come sixth in the world in a class field such as that is amazing. There were Paralympic and World records in the heats, and that was so quick again. I thought London (2012) was quick but four years on the class has evolved. You either adapt or you perish, the next four years are going to be interesting. 

“I’m hungrier than ever, we have a home world championships in London next year and I’m hungry enough to be on that podium – what colour that will be, I don’t know. I am going to get into winter training hard and will push the warm weather next year – so London 2017, here I come!”

In his first ever Paralympic final, Mo Jomni (Jenny Archer) placed eighth in the T53 400m, clocking a time of 51.53. He progressed to the final after a couple of disqualifications in his heat last night so he knew it was always going to be a tough race to be involved in. However, he pushed strongly in his second of four races this week.

Jomni spoke afterwards: “From yesterday’s feeling to now, it shows the other pressure that other athletes are under. Five other athletes got disqualified last night and I got quite fortunate. I felt happy that I made it to the final but next time I want make it on my own rather than others deciding my fate.

“It has given me a lot of homework, there is a lot to study about myself. I’m still learning the process in the 400m but I have the 800m left which shows the pressure which you have to put yourself under but you get that with experience I guess.”

After the disappointment of a disqualification in the 100m earlier in the Games, Jordan Howe (Keith Antoine) bounced back impressively to confirm his place in the T35 100m final. The Welshman was quick out of the blocks and ran a controlled bend before easing off in the final few metres to take third place in 12.76 (+0.9) and go through as an automatic qualifier.

A relieved Howe commented afterwards: “It is a tremendous way to bounce back. I couldn’t have asked for better – I was with the guys all the way through. After the 100m, I was devastated because that was my main event but now I put all my focus on the 200m and I am ready to go. I’m really looking forward to competing in that final tomorrow.”

Paralympics GB Athletics medal tally: (12)

Gold:

Libby Clegg & Chris Clarke – T11 100m

Sophie Hahn – T38 100m

Georgie Hermitage – T37 100m

Jonnie Peacock – T44 100m

Hannah Cockroft – T34 100m  

Silver:

Stef Reid – T44 long jump

Kare Adenegan – T34 100m

Toby Gold – T33 100m

Bronze:

Kadeena Cox – T38 100m

Gemma Prescott – F32 club throw

Sabrina Fortune – F20 shot put

Andrew Small – T33 100m