TWO disabled athletes have underlined their world class potential at the prestigious National Junior Athletics Championships on their home track in Coventry.
Wheelchair racers Ben Rowlings and Kare Adenegan of Coventry Godiva Harriers competed at the annual event at Warwick University alongside 240 of the country’s finest athletes and between them bagged five gold medals.
Adenegan is a u16 T34 racer and is the youngest person on Great Britain’s World Class Performance programme
The 14-year-old won gold in the 100m (19.3 seconds), 400m (65.2 seconds) and 800m (2.06.5) in what was a dominant display on the track.
She also competed as a guest racer in the 200m, clocking a winning time of 35.9 seconds and in the 1500m, finishing second only behind Ben Rowliongs himself in a time of 4.11.0.
Rowlings himself was also in superb form having recently broke into Team GB and he clocked 30.4 in the 200m and 3.55.1 in the 1,500m adding further merit to his already glowing record.
The 19-year-old, who is currently ranked second in the world at 800m and fifth in the world at 200m and 400m, said he was thrilled to be part of such an inspiring event.
“Events like this have meant everything to me and given me aspirations and the ability to express myself,” said Rowlings.
“I’m still learning, but I hope to medal at the World games in Doha later this year and I hope to be part of the team at the Paralympics in Rio next year.”
The two-day championships, organised by the English Federation of Disability Sport, are one of the highlights of the disability sports calendar.
Many elite disabled athletes began their own success at this prestigious event, including Hannah Cockroft, Shelly Woods, Aled Davies and Hollie Arnold whose talent marked them out as potential world-class athletes.
Barry Horne, chief executive of EFDS added: “What an event this year’s championships have been.
“This year’s Typhoo nationals certainly saw some brilliant performances from some very talented young athletes, but it was the sheer joy of participation that will be a lasting memory.”
