Smyth secures sprint double as Barry claims silver in Swansea

Ireland’s Jason Smyth completed the sprint double at the Paralympic Athletics European Championships in Swansea yesterday, adding the T12 200m title to 100m crown he claimed earlier in the week.

For good measure, Orla Barry became the third Irish athlete to medal when she claimed silver in the F57 discus.

With a best throw of 28.13m, the 24-year-old bettered a season’s best from German athlete Ilke Wyludda in third, who threw a season’s best of 27.63m. The gold medal was won by Bulgaria’s Stela Eneva’s 31.88m.

“I’m really happy to win silver. I hadn’t been throwing well in training the last while so to perform far better today at a Championships when it really counts is great; I’m delighted,” the double amputee said.

Orla adds European silver to the world silver she won last year in France and after a short break, will be looking forward to building on it, with the 2015 World Championships in Doha firmly in her sights.

Meanwhile Smyth, the reigning double Paralympic and world champion, and world record holder, claimed gold in 21.67seconds, ahead of Joan Munar of Spain in 22.28, and Artem Loginov of Russia in 22.55.

Into a considerable headwind (-0.8m/s), and with a wet track to contend with, Smyth shot out of the blocks and was clear of the field at the bend. Demonstrating his characteristic textbook sprint action, the 27 year-old powered to the line almost seven 10ths of a second quicker than this in the morning semi-final.

After the race Smyth said: “It’s been a long summer and I seem to have had issues after issues, so I’m just glad and delighted to get the medal in the 200m also.”

Lorraine Regan was the other Irish athlete in action, contesting the F56 javelin. Regan, 24, impressively threw a season’s best of 15.8m to place fifth overall. World and European record holder Martina Willing of Germany claimed gold with a best throw of 20.71m.