Story by Athletics Canada
DUBAI, UAE – Wheelchair racers Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., Zachary Gingras of Markham, Ont., and Ilana Dupont of Saskatoon each won their respective opening heats to advance to finals on day one at the IPC Para athletics world championships.
In the men’s T53 disability category 100-m, defending world champion Lakatos clocked the fastest qualifying team and a season’s best 14.50 seconds. Picking off his competitors from lane seven, it wasn't until the 50-metre mark the 2016 Paralympic Games champion broke away from the pack to take the win.
Gingras, a silver medallist at the Parapan American Games in August, advanced in the men’s T38 400-m with a 53.80.
Concluding the day for Canada was co-captain, Ilana Dupont who stopped the clock at 18.14 in the women’s T53 100-m to qualify for the final.
All three finals are on Friday. Also in action for Canada are co-captain Alister McQueen of Calgary (F46 javelin), Thomas Normandeau of Peace River, Alta., (T47 400-metres) and Lee Leclerc St-Paul, Que., and Austin Smeenk of Oakville, Ont., (T34 both in 800-metres).
The Para athletics worlds are the largest Para sport event to be held before the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and run from November 7 to 15. More than 1,400 athletes from almost 120 nations are expected.
Viewers will be able to follow the action via the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, and CPC Facebook page, as well as the Radio-Canada Sports app and radio-canada.ca/sports.
For the broadcast schedule, please visit Paralympic.ca/Paralympic-Super-Series.
