14 September 2016 

Hannah Cockroft (coach: Jenni Banks) won the fourth Paralympic gold of her career and second of the Games, as Kare Adenegan (Job King) took the bronze in a highly entertaining T34 400m final.

Cockroft broke the world record and went under the 60 second barrier for the first time in her life, clocking 58.78 as she powered to victory in dominant style.

The Yorkshire-based athlete said: “It’s great. I feel like even though the job isn’t quite yet done, I’ve got a world record and all season I’ve wanted to dip under that one minute mark. I’ve been consistently around one minute all season and I just had a feeling I could get under it. I wanted it so bad and I really had to dig in that last 100m and I thought ‘I’ve got too much left here, I’ve got to go quicker.’ I believe I can still go quicker than what I just did.”

She added: “The motivation from me is to keep proving that I haven’t lost it. I might be 24, which looks ancient compared to Kare (Adenegan), but it doesn’t matter how old you are. This sport isn’t about age, I came into it at 16, and so I look at Kare and think that she’s so lucky to have found it so early. Always in my head London (2012) was incredible, but what makes a better athlete is if you can come back four years later and do that again. I’ve done that and I’ve done that in a new event. I’ve shown that I can be adaptable and you can do whatever you want as long as you commit to it and that’s always been the motivation. I don’t want to be a one-trick pony that can go in a straight line really quick, I can do a whole lap quick too.”

Adenegan added 400m bronze to her 100m silver, setting another lifetime best in the process. She had to fight for the medal as well as a fast finishing Rosemary Little applied pressure to the 15 year old. However, she held on to a podium place and posted a time of 1:01.67.

Adenegan commented: “It is amazing to win a second medal; it is a huge blessing for me. It was a tough race – I could see Rosemary Little getting closer and closer but I was just think ‘no, I am going to beat you!’ I was definitely going to get on that podium. The 100m (silver) was amazing and I think that gave me that adrenaline and drive to deliver another great performance. If there was a place to start getting a PB, then it would be here – and I’ve managed to do it in the 100m and 400m here. It leaves me so excited for the 800m.”

“I want to say a huge thanks to my coach Job King. He’s had a huge year becoming a father a few weeks ago but he is here with us and helping us so much to peak to perfection.”

Mel Nicholls (Job King) sadly had to withdraw from the event after suffering with illness over the last few days; however she will focus on being fit for the 800m later in the programme.

Isaac Towers (Peter Wyman) enjoyed the race of his life to set a personal best on his way to fifth place in the T34 800m. The Blackpool, Wyre & Fylde athlete made the most of his first appearance in a Paralympic final, setting a time of 1:45.43 at just 17 years-old.

Towers spoke afterwards: “This is the biggest stage I have ever competed on in my life and the crowd really helped me. They gave me the motivation to push myself that little bit harder. To get a PB in that event is something I’m really pleased with. I got myself in a good position after the first lap and as the race progressed things were going well so I’m happy with the result.”

In the F34 shot put, Nessa Daobry (Alison O’Riordan) made the most of her first Games, placing fifth with a best of 7.27m in round two. She had a consistent series with efforts of 7.23m and 7.20m backing up her leading effort.

F51 club throw champion Jo Butterfield (Phil Peat/Shona Malcolm) finished fifth in the F52 discus. She threw a season best in round three, going out to 9.40m but passed on her last three throws as a precaution due to soreness in her shoulder.

There were echoes of those memorable nights in London four years ago as David Weir (Jenny Archer) swept his way into the T54 800m with victory in the heats. He sat in fifth for the first 500m before making his move as they hit the final bend. From there, the result never looked in doubt and will now battle for the medals tomorrow.

However, Richard Chiassaro (Jenni Banks) could not join him in the final after crossing the line fifth in the last heat, recording a time of 1:39.33.

There was a personal best for Laura Sugar (Femi Akinsanya) as she advanced to the final of the T44 200m. Running from lane one, the European medallist attacked the bend and maintained her form to post a time of 28.04 (-0.6).

ParalympicsGB Athletics medal tally: (25)

Gold (13):

Hollie Arnold – F46 Javelin

Jo Butterfield – F51 Club Throw

Libby Clegg & Chris Clarke – T11 100m and 200m

Kadeena Cox – T38 400m

Hannah Cockroft – T34 100m and 400m

Aled Davies – F42 Shot Put

Sophie Hahn – T38 100m

Georgie Hermitage – T37 100m and 400m

Jonnie Peacock – T44 100m

Richard Whitehead – T42 200m

Silver (4):

Kare Adenegan – T34 100m

Jonathan Broom-Edwards – T44 High Jump

Toby Gold – T33 100m

Stef Reid – T44 long jump

Bronze (8):

Kare Adenegan – T34 400m

Kadeena Cox – T38 100m

Gemma Prescott – F32 club throw

Sabrina Fortune – F20 shot put

Stephen Miller – F32 Club Throw

Andrew Small – T33 100m 

David Henson – T42 200m  

Maria Lyle – T35 100m