Double gold in paratriathlon's Commonwealth Games' debut
Team England's Joe Townsend and Jade Jones-Hall are celebrating after winning Commonwealth Games paratriathlon gold medals on day three. It came as the wheelchair event (PTWC) helped paratriathlon’s debut at the Commonwealth Games. Meanwhile, Team England and Scotland secured more top podium places in para-cycling.
Jade Jones-Hall from Middleborough won gold despite only having completed her first triathlon a year ago. The 22 year old dominated through the race, the fastest across all three disciplines. She had to catch athletes ahead of her after the swim due to the factoring which gives an advantage to athletes with greater impairment.
In the final stage, Jones-Hall caught Australia’s Lauren Parker, and a late crash meant Parker surrendered silver to team mate Emily Tapp.
After, Jones-Hall said:
“I was always chasing which is tough mentally, but to push through was great. I swam really well, I have been working on my swimming for the past six months. I have only been doing paratriathlon for 18 months, and although I have made a lot of improvements, I still have a long way to go.”
“I caught Lauren Parker on the second run lap, but anything can happen so I didn't celebrate until I crossed the finish line. I’m now going to go home to recover and prepare for the marathon."
Jones-Hall is also due to compete for Team England in athletics.
Townsend, a former Royal Marine and 2016 Rio Paralympian showed form with his golden performance, after he won his first ITU world championship medal in September.
Coming from behind after the swim, Townsend gradually moved through the field and delivered a gold medal for Team England. Townsend said:
“It was my perfect race. What I planned to do in my head happened on race day, I kept the gap smaller than I ever have done on the swim. The swim is my weakest discipline and I know I'm one of the strongest hand cyclists and pushers in the field, so coming out of T2 in the lead, I knew the race was mine. I just had to keep my cool. This is absolutely the highlight of my career."
England’s Mark Conway made his major championship paratriathlon debut and finished fourth. David Kerr of Northern Ireland was sixth. In the women’s event, Karen Darke, a Paralympic cycling champion, was fourth for Scotland and England’s Lizzie Tench was fifth.
Home nation medal delight in para-cycling
In para-cycling, England's Sophie Thornhill and pilot Helen Scott broke their world record to win gold in the women's blind and visually impaired (B&VI) 1,000m time trial. Scotland's Aileen McGlynn and pilot Louise Haston were third.
Scotland’s Neil Fachie and pilot Matt Rotherham won the men's B&VI sprint, their second gold in these Games. It meant Fachie equalled the Scottish Commonwealth record - held by sprinter Allan Wells and bowler Alex Marshall – who have four. James Ball and pilot Peter Mitchell took silver for Team Wales.
Follow the action of our Home nation stars on the Gold Coast 2018 website. The Games take place from 4-15 April 2018.
Photo credit: ParalympicsGB
