The World Para Athletics Championships kicked off on Saturday, July 8, and team Ireland have given impressive performances so far.
Greta Streimikyte took off in the T13 1500m final on July 10, at 10:35. She placed 4th with a time of 4:33.27. Streimikyte's time set a new European Record and has secured a slot for Team Ireland for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
“I’m kind of between fourth and fifth, it would be nice in a major world championships or Paralympic Games to move from that position. Today didn’t work out the way I wanted I need to come back and rethink is there anything I could do differently. There’s always room to improve,” said Streimikyte after the race.
4:33.27 - 4th place finish for Greta Streimikyte in the 1500m T13 Final.
No podium this time but:
✅ European Record
✅ Slot Secured for Team Ireland for Paris 24#TheNextLevel | #RaisingANation | #TeamIreland | #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/L5uRfkKQtU— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) July 10, 2023
Orla Comerford, returned to the track on July 10, for Day 3 of the event, after qualifying for the 100m finals in the T13 category the day before. The 100m sprinter came into the race with her recently set personal best (PB) record of 12.14.
Comerford ran a 12.22 and placed fourth overall in an nail-biting final. Comerford narrowly missed out on bronze by 0.06 of a second. However, by placing in fourth, the two-time paralympian secured a slot for Team Ireland for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
“Honestly, I’ve mixed emotions about it, I came here to be top four and I am so delighted and I can’t put into words how delighted I am to finish top four. It takes a massive weight off me for next year. Obviously after yesterday’s run, I was hoping for bronze, but it wasn’t to be,” said Comerford in her post race interview.
12.22 - 4th place in an extremely close 100m T13 final for Orla Comerford 🙌🏻
Narrowly missing out on bronze but:
✅ PB Smashed in her heat
✅ Slot Secured for Team Ireland for Paris 24#TheNextLevel | #RaisingANation | #TeamIreland | #ParaAthletics pic.twitter.com/FsZt4PIMkb— Paralympics Ireland (@ParalympicsIRE) July 10, 2023
Team Ireland had their final competitions today, Day 10.
Cathal Ryan had his World championship debut where he ran in the T47 400m race on Day 6, July 13, and placed 5th in his heat. Ryan set a personal best with a time of 51.86.
Shauna Bocquet competed in her first ever world championship final on July 13, where she placed 10th. The 19-year old set a personal best of 3:31.05 in the T54 1500.
Bocquet continued competing in the T54 100m on Day 7, July 14, where she placed 4th in T54 100m Heat 1 with a time of 17.92. Shauna finished her world debut in the T54 400m in 5th place in Heat 2, with a time of 58.28.
Aaron Shorten took the world stage this morning, Day 10, at 8:30 where he placed 14th place in the T20 1500m final. Shorten ran a time of 4:04.75.
Mary Fitzgerald took to the field this morning, Day 10, in the F40 Shot Put final. Fitzgerald placed in 7th with a season best of 7.84.
