Rising middle-distance runner Annabelle Colman has delivered Australia bronze in the final event of the Day Six program in New Delhi, upgrading her Paralympic fourth-place finish to bring the nation’s medal tally into double figures at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships.
A lightning delay could not stop Colman (VIC, Anthony de Castella and Liz Gosper, T20) who danced in the rain and onto the podium in New Delhi with bronze in the 1500m T20, stopping the clock in 4:35.56.
In the race for athletes with an intellectual impairment, the emerging Australian paced herself to perfection to work her way through the field – landing her first global medal at her third major championship appearance.
“It feels unbelievable. It feels like I was running in France yesterday, but as of tonight I’m in a completely different environment in New Delhi, which is much hotter than I expected,” Colman said.
“It wasn’t a PB tonight, but I’m just proud that I won the bronze and gave it my best. It was sort of a secret goal I had in mind, but my coach once said to me to smile and enjoy the moment because that’s what’s more important than a medal.”
Sporting a pair of Australian coloured socks, Colman could not have been much more stylish in victory:
“It keeps me going to run in the green and gold, it’s such a good experience.”
Fellow rising star Michael Mayne (VIC, Alwyn Jones, T38) made his mark on global debut with a 18-centimere personal best in the Long Jump T38, launching himself into medal contention with a leap of 6.33m (+1.2) early in the contest.
The 21-year-old was relegated to sixth place after all six jumps were completed and finished 20-centimetres shy of the podium, but remains confident that is a goal he can build towards as a raw Para-athletics prospect.
“That was awesome! From talking to the senior guys, the main thing was to go out there and have fun. I have had a really good training block since Nationals and I knew I had a really good chance at a PB,” Mayne said.
“Once I got that out of the way, I had a look at the scoreboard and thought you know what, I’ve got a chance to medal here. It didn’t go the way I hoped after that, but I’m stoked.
“I’ve got a lot left in me! I’m looking forward to LA because if I can get it right with the board, there’s a lot to come. I’m really excited.”
Paralympian Ari Gesini (ACT, Rowan Vergano, T38) bowed out of the final with a 5.90m (+0.9) leap for ninth place.
The pace proved too hot for Samuel Carter (ACT, Fred Periac, T54) as he struggled for positioning in the 1500m T54 final, with the wheelchair racer unable to recover from a slow start as he finished in 11th place with a time of 2:59.20.
Earlier in the day, sprinter James Turner (ACT, Iryna Dvoskina, T36) kick-started his chase for global gold number 13, cruising through the heats of the 100m T36 to stop the clock in 11.94 (-1.0) to be the fastest qualifier for tomorrow’s final.
The 2025 World Para Athletics Championships are being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, India from September 27 – October 5.
Australian viewers can tune in live and free via the Paralympic Games YouTube channel from 1:30pm AEST.
By Lachlan Moorhouse, Australian Athletics
Posted 2/10/2025
