 Jason Smyth is among Ireland's best sprinters despite his disability |
Visually-impaired Londonderry sprinter Jason Smyth claimed the 60 metres title at IPC World Indoor Paralympic Games in Sweden over the weekend. Smyth set a new overall Irish indoor record when he clocked 6.92 seconds to beat US star Royal Mitchell into second place in Bollnas.
The Derryman's time was .01secs faster than Jeff Pamplin's 14-year-old mark.
Despite his disability, Smyth finished third in the 100 metres in last year's Irish National Championships.
He also claimed two European Paralympic titles last year and as a result, was recently awarded a 40,000 Euro Irish Sports Council grant.
The Eglinton lad is coached by Strabane man Stephen Maguire who was last week was appointed as Athletics Ireland's new director of coaching.
There were other Irish wins in Sweden with Clareman Derek Malone emphasising his world-class status by claiming victory in the 36/38 class 400m title with a time of 55.89.
James McCarthy took gold in the F57 class shot putt while Michael Delaney and Roy Guerin earned bronze medals in the T12 high jump and T53/54 60m.
MMIX
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