Dockery reinstated for 5000m final

Irish wheelchair athlete Patrice Dockery has been reinstated in the field for tomorrow night's Paralympic T54 5000m final in Athens, following a meeting of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

The 33-year-old Dubliner crashed out of last night's semi-final, colliding with Mexican Ariadne Hernandez midway through the race.

Following a protest lodged by the Irish team management, both athletes will be allowed to compete in tomorrow's final.

Dockery, who finished sixth in Sydney four years ago, was bruised and taken away in a buggy following the incident, and will wait until tomorrow morning before confirming her participation.

European 5000m champion in 2001, Dockery is also scheduled to go in the 1500m qualifiers on Thursday and the marathon on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Kinsale sailor John Twomey failed to bid to build on his excellent third place finish of yesterday, claiming eighth and eleventh in today's Sonar class races.

The 49-year-old struggled with a low wind, which fluctuated between four and six knots. With three races remaining, Twomey and the other 14 competitors availed of the discard today, seeing the Corkman remain ninth overall, on 40 net points.

Israeli Dror Cohen leads the way on 14, claiming fourth in both the fifth and sixth races.

On the track tonight Clareman Derek Malone lines out in the T38 800m final at 7.35pm Irish time, with every hope of a medal.

The 24-year-old has the fourth fastest 2004 time in the eight-man field.

PARALYMPICS, Day three results –

SAILING: MIXED SONAR (3-person), Race 5 –

(1) J Robertson (Great Britain) 1.03:15, (2) U Hessels (Netherlands) +0:21, (3) J Kroker (Germany) +0:25, (4) D Cohen (Israel) +0:42, (5) V Christoforou (Greece) +0:47; (8) J Twomey (Crew: S McGrath, B O’Mahony) (Ireland) +1:23

Race 6 –

(1) J Kroker (Germany) 55:05, (2) J Dunross (Australia) +2:38, (3) U Hessels (Netherlands) +3:21, (4) D Cohen (Israel) +3:43, (5) E Vives (Spain) +3:45; (11) J Twomey (Ireland) +4:58

Overall – after race 6 of 9

(1) Dror Cohen (Israel) Total Points 30, Net Points 14, (2) Jens Kroker (Germany) 25, 16, (3) Udo Hessels (Netherlands) 24, 18, (4) John Ross Duggan (USA) 25, 19, (5) Jamie Dunross (Australia) 28, 21, (6) John Robertson (Great Britain) 49, 33, (7) Brian Mackie (Canada) 45, 35, (8) Enrique Vives (Spain) 49, 36, (9) John Twomey (Ireland) 51, 40 (Race finishes: 10, 9, 10, 3, 8, (Discard: 11))