Sally Brown Secures Second Place at World Paralympics European Champs

Sally was competing for GB in the T47 category for athletes with a limb deficiency. She was timed in a huge season's best time of 64.25 seconds. Brown was some 20 metres in arrears for most of the race and appeared to close in the home straight. However, Lanza fought back with 30 metres remaining and secured victory in 63.26 seconds.

23 year old Brown who is formerly from Ballykelly will be hugely relieved at this result coming after a 6 year absence from competitive racing after performing well in the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Prior to the Championships Sally said;

"I'm really excited. I'm quite relieved that all my patience and hard work and determination through all the injuries and illnesses have paid off. The toughest thing was keeping mentally at it and starting again. "

Sally will have only a short rest before she meets the challenges of the 100 and 200 metres later this week.

Jason Smyth will be going for yet another Paralympic title today over the 100 metres to add to his gold in the 200.

The 31 year old is referred to as the fastest Paralympian on the planet. He set the current World record of 10.46 secs when winning in the London Paralympics back in 2012 . His credentials do not however end there as he is also the current NI record holder for able bodied athletes with a time of 10.22 secs which he set back in 2011.

His current form indicates that another European record could be on the cards today to mirror his achievement in the 200 metres. He holds the current record of 10.96 seconds which he set in Finland back in 2005. A new record is highly possible as Jason's best time this season is 10.53 seconds from only a week ago in Newham.

Meanwhile for 16 year old Bangor schoolgirl Eve Walsh Dann her T36 200 metres race scheduled for last night has now been amalgamated in today's race which includes the much more competitive T38 category. Pending reclassification, she will compete tonight in the T38 200m.

While Eve has two European Junior titles to her name she will be racing today against strong opposition.

Also competing is newcomer David Leavy of City of Lisburn in the T38 category over 1,500 metres.
David who has cerebral palsy is no stranger to Para sports competition as he competed in the Rio Olympics in football.