Malone through as fastest loser

Clare's Derek Malone ran a personal best in today's Paralympics T38 400 metres heats at the Olympic Stadium, to qualify as a fastest loser for tomorrow night's final.

Malone, already a bronze medallist at the Athens Paralympics over 800, clocked 54.35 seconds for fifth in the first heat - lowering his previous mark by over two seconds.

The 24-year-old said afterwards: "I was one of four athletes to get new personal bests, so it shows you the standard out here. It will be very hard to get in amongst the medals - I'll have to run another PB in the final, especially with Tim O'Sullivan around."

Australian O'Sullivan, the current Paralympic and World record holder, comfortably took Malone's heat in a season's best of 51.42.

Elsewhere, Boccia BC3 team mates Johnny Cronin and Ger O'Grady made up for their failure in the individual competition, with a much improved first day in the pairs.

The Sydney gold medallists, skippered by Mallow man Cronin, beat the Czech pairing of Ales Bildas and Radovan Krenek 5-3 to stay alive in Pool U.

The Irish duo are tied with Spain, silver medallists four years ago, after the opening round of play, but enjoy a better points average.

Cronin and Limerick youngster O'Grady, 23, face the Spaniards and New Zealand tomorrow in the Ano Liossia Hall.

Keith Hayes' BC1/2 Irish team face an uphill task, having lost their first Pairs Pool game 9-3 to New Zealand.

The Irish, who also include Bobbie Connolly, Martina Murphy and Sydney individual champion Gay Shelly, take on Portugal, Denmark and Thailand tomorrow.

Strabane's Aidan McGlynn failed to make it out of the S9 50m Freestyle heats this morning, finishing sixth.

Dublin wheelchair athlete Patrice Dockery pulled out of the T54 marathon due to injuries sustained in her 5000m crash on Monday night.