A new Australian record was the silver lining for Deon Kenzie as he finished second in the T38 800-metres final at the World Para-Athletics Championships.
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After winning his heat on day one in London, the 21-year-old Forth athlete surpassed his own expectations by clocking 2:02.15 in finishing behind Irish winner Michael McKillop.
“I put it all on the line early, which is what I set out [for] today, and I couldn’t have put in more,” Kenzie said.
“It’s always a pleasure racing Michael, he’s a good friend of mine. He’s a world class athlete and hopefully one day I’ll get him.
“The crowd here is awesome, and it’s great to see London putting so much effort and energy into the Paralympic movement, and to have a crowd like this is absolutely fantastic.”
Kenzie, who has cerebral palsy affecting the right side of his body, will race again on Saturday in the T38 1500m in which he is the world record holder.
Kenzie’s silver came a day after Launceston-born Todd Hodgetts claimed a bronze medal with his final throw in the F20 shot put.
The Melbourne-based 29-year-old, who has been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, was competing in the same stadium he won a Paralympic title in 2012.
Johannesburg
Hobart’s Jeremy Edwards claimed his second international goal as the Kookaburras continued on their winning ways against New Zealand at the World League semi-finals in Johannesburg.
After going behind to Jared Panchia’s field goal, Edwards launched Australia’s fightback from a 53rd-minute penalty corner seven minutes before Jeremy Hayward sealed the 2-1 win.
It was the Kookaburras’ third straight win in the pool games.
They were due to complete their group matches against Japan on Monday night (Tas time) ahead of quarter-finals beginning on Wednesday.
Edwards, 25, who has played 20 games for the national team, is the sole Tasmanian on the tour following new dad Eddie Ockenden’s withdrawal.
Taunton
Another wicket in Australia’s 59-run win against South Africa cemented Kristen Beams’ position among the best bowlers at the women’s ICC World Cup.
The 32-year-old spinner, originally of Exeter, took 1-28 in her team’s final pool match in Taunton as South Africa fell short of its 270 victory target.
Beams has taken wickets in all six of Australia’s matches in the tournament, with a best of 3-23 against Pakistan at Leicester, to sit third on the wickets tally with 11 at an average of 19.72.
However, the fixture marked the first time the No.11 has been required to bat on the tour and she was dismissed lbw by Marizanne Kapp for a golden duck in the penultimate over.
Australia faces India in Thursday’s semi-final at Derby.
Plovdiv
Tamar rower Henry Youl is ready to take on the world this week.
The 21-year-old is competing at the World Rowing Under-23 championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where he is set to team up with Sam Hardy, Andrew Judge, Sam Marsh and cox Georgia Litt.
They face heats on Wednesday with repechage on Thursday and the A-final scheduled for Saturday.