It was a spectacular end to the IPC Athletics World Championships for Welsh athletes with two gold medals. Hollie Arnold (coach: Anthony Hughes) and Olivia Breen (Jonas Tawiah-Dodoo) in the women’s T35-38 4x100m relay team were both on top of the podium on the final day of action in Doha.
The women’s T35-38 4x100m relay team consisting of Wales Olivia Breen, Maria Lyle (Tabo Huntley), Georgie Hermitage (Paul MacGregor) and Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell) obliterated the world record, setting a time of 52.22 to cruise to victory.
Breen got off to an impressive start and handed over to T35 100m and 200m silver medallist Lyle, who closed the gap on the back straight. T37 400m champion Hermitage showed her endurance strength over the penultimate leg, overtaking the Australian and Russian teams before giving Hahn the task of anchoring the team to golden success in record-breaking fashion.
Hollie Arnold retained the F46 javelin title that she won at the previous world championship in splendid style, setting a championship record of 40.53m. The Wales-based athlete took the lead in the second round, first extending the record to 40.03m before unleashing her biggest throw in round three.
Arnold spoke afterwards: “I’m over the moon – I’m really happy with my performance. I did want to go out there and break the world record, but in this heat, I was melting. I know there is more to come which is a massive positive.
The 21 year-old made sure all the GB world champions in Lyon regained their titles in Doha, saying: “I was aware of that and I did feel the pressure. Just going out there and feeling the energy and positivity, I knew I could go out there and win.”
After an injury-plagued 18 months, Rhys Jones (Keith Antoine) was grateful to reach the T37 100m final in Doha and finished in eighth place, clocking a time of 12.12 to match his performance in Lyon two years ago.
