WALLAN local Kirra Wright has kick started Australia’s World Para Athletics Championships campaign in earnest in New Delhi, recording the country’s first medal of the Championships thanks to her performance in the women’s shot put F36 competition.
Ms Wright put in an incredible performance to beat her personal best by almost three quarters of a metre, having come into the competition with a 7.61m personal best.
She threw 7.96m in the second round to give herself a good launching pad, before throwing 8.3m in the fourth round to secure the silver medal, finishing behind the Netherlands’ gold medallist, Cheyenne Bouthoorn, who threw 9.62m.
The result means the 17-year-old is one step closer to achieving her goal of representing Australia in the Paralympic Games.
Just three weeks ago, the Mitchell Shire local, and former Wandong Primary School student, was helping out at the Mitchell District Athletics Championships, giving back to the community which helped give her a starting point to compete in the championships.
Ms Wright’s campaign is not over yet, set to compete in tonight’s T36 100 metre races.
Ms Wright’s exploits inspired other Australian athletes to glory, with Nathan Jason breaking the Australian record in the T12 100 metre heats and semi-finals to qualify for the final.
Telaya Blacksmith finished eighth in the women’s T20 400 metre final, while Ulrich Muller qualified for the men’s T38 100 metre final.
