England excel at debut Nottwil Para Grand Prix
This week our very first England representative para athletics team travelled to Switzerland for the Nottwil Grand Prix including the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial. Taking place over four days, the small team of five athletes had a fantastic couple of days of competition including new personal bests and season's bests!
Day 1:
On her International debut Daina Donnelly (Job King, Coventry) got the team off to a great start in the T34 200m (43:14). Daina carried on this fantastic momentum into the T34 800m with a new personal best (2:53:30). In the same race, Erin O’Flaherty (Chris Parsloe, Velocity), also international team debut, got her Grand Prix campaign off to an amazing start taking 8 seconds off her personal best (2:31:57).
Isaac Towers (Peter Wyman, Kirkby AC) was first up for the men, finishing very strongly in the T34 800m (1:44:00). Team Captain Moatez Jomni (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy), not long returning from the World Championships in Japan, also had a great first race finishing 3rd overall in the T53 800m (1:42:95) with Dillon LaBrooy (Jenny Archer, Weir Archer Academy) rounding up a fantastic first day with a season best in the T54 800m (1:36:84).
Day 2:
The second day of competition was all about the 400m! With some rain and technical equipment problems to contest with, the team built on the great performances from the previous day. The two women had fantastic races, both achieving new personal bests of 1:14.98 for Erin and 1:24.20 for Daina. It was another season's best for Dillon (49:17) with Moatez coming home in 51.11 and Isaac Towers in 55.23.
Day 3:
Day three was all about speed with several 100m heats on the cards for the team, and Isaac Towers representing in the 1500m.
It was another personal best for Erin O'Flaherty, taking her time down to 21.50, with Daina Donnelly just outside her best with 22.85. In the men's event, Dillon Labrooy led the English contingent with 15.35 with Moatez Jomni just dipping under 16 seconds with 15.97.
Isaac Towers raced his very first 1500m of the season in a time of 3:23.83.
Day 4:
The final day of the competition covered a range of events with the team ending on a real high with plenty of personal and season's bests. Daina Donnelly was back in action over the 100m (22.81), 200m (42.41), the 400m (1:22.57). Erin O'Flaherty achieved a brand-new personal best in the 800m (2:29.01), also achieving fantastic times in the 100m (22.19) and the 400m (1:15.15).
Isaac Towers competed in both the 400m (53.74) and 800m (1:42.02) with Dillon Labrooy also racing over the 400m (49.27) and the 800m (1:35.31 SB).
Speaking on the competition, Team Manager Vicky Griffiths said:
“A huge well done to all the athletes and their coaches for their performances at this Grand Prix! In this Paralympic year we wanted to ensure our England athletes had the best opportunity to perform and the team did just that! With a mix of personal and season's bests, the team thrived as they stepped up against the best athletes in the world. Well done to all! Let’s keep this momentum going for the rest of the season!”