Paralympics: Sprinter diplomatic after start-gun controversy

A botched start that affected half the field including New Zealand's Matt Slade, marred the T37 100m final at the Athens Paralympics yesterday.

Slade missed the start by 2m and was last at the 50m, but closed quickly to finish fifth.

"I was not even in my 'set' position when the starter pulled the gun. I was going down and they were coming up. It was crazy," he said.

Coach Claire Dallison was far less diplomatic.

"That was the starter's mistake, not Matt's.

"There were four runners affected. The three who won medals were not.

"When the starter pulls the gun before everyone is ready in a 100m race there is no chance to recover.

"The Australians are absolutely livid as well. This is the second race in a row where the starter has been too quick and affected runners."

Slade was philosophical.

"I'm very happy with where I am at the moment.

"I won gold in the 200m and I know what I could have done in the 100m with a proper start."

In boccia, New Zealand finished the day of the teams event with a win and a loss.

The BC1, BC2 team of Liam Sanders (Auckland), Ross Flood (Auckland), Jeremy Morriss (Rangiora) and Maurice Toon (Waikato) beat Ireland 9-3.

The BC3 pairs team of Greig Jackson (Levin) and Henk Dijkstra (Dunedin) lost 5-4 to Spain.

Coach Trevor Jenkinson said that it was a good day, considering the Spanish team had given New Zealand a thumping the last time, and are top seeds for the competition.

In swimming, Christchurch's Hadleigh Pearson has been chasing a personal best in the S6 400m freestyle since the Sydney Paralympics, and he was able to slip 1.3s under that time in finishing eighth in the final in 5m 44.09s.

Being one of the last members of the New Zealand team to compete has been difficult, but the satisfaction of the time has made up for that.

"The first week was okay, but the last few days have been a real test. You just have to keep training and block out everything else," he said.


- NZPA