Team England athletes complete Commonwealth Games preparation at Stoke Mandeville
In a ‘dress rehearsal’ for what could be the 100m–T34 final at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Team England’s Hannah Cockroft produced an ‘unofficial’ World Best time of 16.27s, with teammates Kare Adenegan and Fabienne Andre finishing in 17.26, and 19.06, respectively.
At the competition held at Stoke Mandeville last weekend, Team England’s Nathan Maguire was also feeling the need for speed, pushing an ‘unofficial’ UK best time over 100m with 14.06. Just what he needed to then go on to dominate the men’s 1500m in a slightly tactical race, finishing in 3:06.79.s
Eden Rainbow-Cooper, fellow Team England para-athlete for Birmingham 2022, looked to gain some speed in advance of the women’s marathon next month, with some impressive pushes over 1500m and 800m – a personal best of 3:28.91 in the 1500m, finishing just behind two Scottish athletes (Sammi Kinghorn and Mel Woods), and another personal best time of 1:49.64 in the 800m.
YouTube: Commonwealth athletes take on Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair GP
Hannah, despite being one of the most successful and decorated British athletes in history, will be competing for Team England for the very first time in her career following the inclusion of the 100m–T34 in Birmingham 2022. She said:
“This is my first time representing Team England which I am looking forward to as an experience in itself but I think, for me, the bit I am most looking forward to is being back in front of that crowd. We’ve not had a crowd of this size probably, for me, since London 2012, so I am really looking forward to being in front of that and the fact that it’s a home crowd will make it a million times better. I know the atmosphere is going to be amazing, the noise is going to be phenomenal and I can’t wait to be part of it.”
Another Commonwealth Games debutant, Eden, said:
“I am just excited to experience what a senior championships is like. This is my first one so I am really looking forward to the atmosphere and having my family there as it’s a home Games.”
Nathan, who raced for Team England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, said:
“[I am most looking forward to] The fact the Games are on British soil, we’ve got it in Birmingham, no-one quite does a crowd like the British. It’s just that roar that we are really looking forward to. Obviously the race as well and hopefully getting one of those shiny things at the end of the race would be so nice. I am just looking forward to the atmosphere and the opportunity to wear an England vest and compete on home soil.”
- Visit the Journey to 2022 pages to learn more about the Commonwealth Games.