Holmes Breaks World Record in the 100m

April Holmes, Chula Vista, California/Somerdale, New Jersey, set a new world record for the 100m dash at the US Paralympics Track & Field National Championships June 30-July 2 in Atlanta, Georgia. Holmes broke her own previously held world record of 13.13 with a new time of 12.98 in the women's T44 100m dash.

The Championships showcased triumphs for other athletes as well.

In the women's wheelchair division, two names could be heard over the PA system repeatedly: Jessie Galli, Urbana, Illinois, and Miriam Ladner, also of Urbana. Both athletes compete in the women's T53 division and logged some standout performances, noted Beth Bourgeois, manager of communications for US Paralympics.

Ladner took the 100m race with a time of 17.00, and Galli was just a hair behind her, taking the second place spot with 17.12.

In the 200m, Galli pulled out the win at 30.56; Ladner trailed just slightly at 31.01.

Galli tallied another first-place finish in the women's T53 400m with a time of 58.17, followed by National Team member Shirley Reilly, Tucson, Arizona, 1:00.02; and Ladner in third, 1:00.17.

Women's T54 Division

Moving to the women's T54 division, teenager Tatyana McFadden, Clarksville, Maryland, churned out a first-place win in the 100m with a time of 16.75. The T54 world record is currently held by Canada's Chantal Petitcler16.33.

McFadden also pulled out a second-place finish in the women's T54 200m after a neck-and-neck race to the finish line with Switzerland's Edith Hunkeler. McFadden raced 30.03 with Hunkeler edging just past her for first, with a time of 29.88.

That wasn't it for McFadden, either. She also racked up a second-place finish in the 400m (57.13)again, trailing just behind Hunkeler (55.99).

In women's field events, Jill Kenney, Charlottesville, Virginia, posted an impressive throw of 5.86 in the shot put.

Men's Competition

Nelacey Porter, Chula Vista, a member of the US Paralympics Track & Field Resident Program at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, ran a time of 11.59 in the T11 100m.

In the men's T12 division, Josiah Jamison, Chula Vista, and his guide, Jerome Avery, Lansing, Michigan, won the 100m with a time of 11.33.

Peter Gottwald Jr., West Chester, Pennsylvania, claimed first place honors in the men's T13 1500m run with a time of 4:07.23.

In the men's T44 division, Danny Andrews, Tucson, came in first in the 400m with a time of 51.64, just four-tenths shy of his world-record time of 51.24. "I've been pretty consistent; I've been running just about this same time all year," said Andrews. "It's nice to come back from Europe where it was cold and wet at the time and run in an area where it's dry, hot, and there's a great surface like this one to run on. I'm hoping it will be any day now before I drop that time and break my world record."

Finishing second in the men's T44 400m was Ryan Fann, Brush Creek, Tennessee, with a time of 54.22.

In the T44 long jump, Casey Tibbs, Chula Vista, California/San Antonio, Texas, finished in first place with a jump of 6.14m. Tibbs, who has only been in training for the past six weeks, says he feels like he's definitely on track for the World Championships. "Looking ahead at Worlds, I feel really good," said Tibbs. "I feel like I have focus and know exactly what I need to work onmy speed and my jumping. I know I can make an improvement by September."

JeffSkiba, Chula Vista, California/Sammamish, Washington, a member of the US Paralympics Ambulatory Track & Field Resident Program at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, took second place in the long jump, leaping for a distance of 5.98m.

He didn't stop there. Skiba also had a strong showing in the high jump. Skiba, who owns the world record in the event (WR: 2.09m = 6 ft. 10 ¼ in.), jumped 2.05 m (6 ft.8 ¾ in.). "I felt a little tired from yesterday," said Skiba. "However, this was a good jump for me, and I'm really happy with how Nationals went overall. Now my focus is on Worlds and I'm anticipating bringing home a good amount of hardware."

In the men's T46 division, National Team member Abe Sauer, Johnstown, Colorado, ran 4:12.63 in the 1500m race.

Men's Wheelchair Racing

In men's wheelchair racing action, Steven Toyogi, Tucson, finished up third in the T52 800m 2:16.48, following Spain's Santiago Sanz (2:00.43) and Canada's Dean Bergeron (2:04.21).

In the men's T53 800m Adam Bleakney , Urbana, came in third with a finish time of 1:47.57, behind Australia's Richard Colman (1:45.71) and Canada's Eric Gauthier (1:46.42).

In the T54 division, Jordan Bird, Wichita, Kansas, blazed his way to first place in the 200m with a finish time of 25.64.

"I'm so excited to go to Worlds," said Bird. "I had a lot of races in day two of competition, but with my confidence, I knew I'd do well."

Men's Field Events

In the F40 javelin, Scott Danberg, Cooper City, Florida, threw for 30.38m, just shy of his personal best, and 9.00m in the shot pot.

In men's F44 competition, Edwin Cockrell, New Athens, Illinois, took second with a throw of 14.22m.

Val Jacobson, Hampton, South Carolina, threw the javelin for 15.40m in the F53 division.

The 2006 US Paralympics Track & Field National Championships was the sole qualifier for the 2006 IPC Track & Field World Championships in Assen, The Netherlands, which takes place Sept. 3-10, 2006. The US Paralympics Track & Field World Championships Team will be named based on their performances at this event and will be posted on www.usparalympics.org

For a complete list of results from the National Championships, please go to www.blazesports.com For more information, please contact Beth Bourgeois, U.S. Paralympics, at 719.216.3206 or beth.bourgeois@usoc.org

Holmes Breaks World Record in the 100m

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Holmes Breaks World Record in the 100m

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AOPA Assembly Program Offers 36 CEs

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VQ OrthoCare Acquires Bracing Division of Omni Life Science

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