Super weekend for Para athletics stars Brent Lakatos and Nate Riech

In the long and short of it, Brent Lakatos was the wheelchair racing King at the Nottwil Grand Prix in Para athletics over the weekend. 

Lakatos, one of Canada’s top medal hopes for this summer’s Paralympic Games in Tokyo, triumphed in the 100 metre, 400m, 800m and even the 5000m at the annual stop on the circuit in Switzerland which attracted 272 athletes from 47 countries.

‘’I didn’t think I would be quite as fit, but I am pleased with my times,’’ said the 40-year-old from Dorval, tuning up for potentially a fifth Paralympic Games. ‘’I hadn’t competed in a long time and this was a good opportunity to stay alert, work on my strategies and be ready at the start.’’

Lakatos posted his first win on Friday in the T53 800m in one minute and 32.27 seconds. On Saturday he took the 100m in 14.66 and on Sunday he clocked 10:17.24 for top spot in the T53-54 5000m and 48.07 in the 400m.

Had some great fun racing again in Nottwil, now off to Arbon for the next two competitions. Thanks you Rens for the photo! pic.twitter.com/yyCzCb5XdJ

— Brent Lakatos (@BrentLak) May 17, 2021

Felt so good to finally PB in the 1500m 3:50.4 – so close to sub 3:50, I’m going to enjoy this one. #paraathletics #NewWorldRecord pic.twitter.com/e4tmzJ8nXl

— Nate Riech (@NateGraywolf) May 15, 2021

Not to be outdone, Para running world champion Nathan Riech of Victoria continued to reach new heights with another smashing world record performance in the men’s T38 1500m at an event in Azusa, California. Riech clocked 3:50.47 beating his previous best of 3:52.56 set this past March at a meet in Victoria.

‘’Felt so good to finally PB in the 1500m 3:50.4 – so close to sub 3:50, I’m going to enjoy this one,’’ Riech, 26, tweeted.