Of the many impressive achievements at St Leonards Athletics Centre last week, Xander McKillop's could easily have gone unnoticed.
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But in international terms, it was among the most significant.
The 17-year-old finished second in a field of two in the open men's 100 metres at the Tasmanian All-Schools Championships.
However, his time of 12.58 was inside the stipulated 12.70 to be designated a B-qualifier for the Paralympic World Championships later this month.
Unfortunately for McKillop, the qualifying period ended in September and while he may not be making last-minute travel plans to Dubai, the performance does open the door for next year's Paralympic Games in Tokyo.
"He's been aiming to get that qualifier for the worlds for some time," explained McKillop's mum Linda.
"If he had done this two months ago he would have qualified but he's pretty pragmatic about it. He's not disappointed, he's just excited that he's improving.
"We knew by September 23 that he had not done it and the next goal to aim for was Tokyo so we are waiting to see what the qualifying standards are.
"So Dubai is not on but Tokyo is out there and we'll see what happens."
The Guilford Young student, who turns 18 in December, is classified as a T36 athlete with cerebral palsy, but his mum explained that he has Joubert Syndrome, which affects his coordination and balance, and also has an intellectual disability and vision impairment.
Coached by Rosemary Coleman, McKillop is a Tasmanian Institute of Sport scholarship holder who trains six days a week under Athletics Australia's National Athletes Support Scheme.
"Athletics has been brilliant for him. It's his social network and has been great for his confidence, communication and health," Linda added.
McKillop, who also ran the open 200m at the state championships, was delighted to have registered an unofficial T36 under-20 state record.
"It was really astounding. I celebrated a bit," he said.
"It's just fun to sprint and compete against other athletes and I love the social side of athletics."
Coleman said McKillop is waiting to find out what the qualifying times for the Paralympics will be.
"We are presuming they are around the same as worlds but are yet to find out. He's done one, which we are hoping to get ratified, and he will need to do another."
Athletics Tasmania events commissioner Brian Roe said McKillop's story is an important chapter in Tasmanian athletics history.
"He has emphatically demonstrated that the sport can be an avenue for success for so many people in our society," he said.
"Here is a young man with a range of impairments, any one of which might make someone or those around him think that sport is not a real option. At first he has to learn to stay in his lane, then to use starting blocks and now to run fast and competitively.
"Within a year or two it looks as though he will be a world class athlete - all achieved from right here in Tasmania.
"His progress should be a beacon shining brightly for so many young Tasmanians - para or abled bodied, their families and in particular to schools that just about anything is possible if you want to have a crack at it.
"Tasmanian schools have shown a reluctance to embrace opportunities for students in para-sport, fearing that it somehow is contrary to inclusivity. This needs to change."
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