Australia is poised for one final push at the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships today, with Paralympic medallists Reece Langdon and Rheed McCracken locking and loading the fireworks to close out the Para-athletics spectacular in New Delhi.
After clinching Paralympic bronze in Paris, world record holder Langdon (VIC, Tim O’Shaughnessy, T38) has had to wait until the final day of competition to stamp his presence on the 1500m T38 – gunning for his first global gold.
Setting the world record of 3:46.83 at the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth this April, Langdon is determined to translate that form onto the top step of the podium in New Delhi, where he will be joined by rising star Angus Hincksman (SA, Philo Saunders, T38) and Ben Eppelstun (ACT, Philo Saunders, T38).
“Running the world record at our National Championships earlier this year is something that I have been working on for a long time. I always sort of just missed out on it, but it’s given me that confidence that I know I’m the fastest in the world,” Langdon said.
“I haven’t won gold yet. I have won silver in Paris [2023 World Championships], I won bronze last year [2024 Paralympics] and gold is all I’m missing – so that’s something I want to add to my locker room.”
A 3:49.10 man and World Para Athletics Championships bronze medallist in his own right, the 20-year-old Hincksman is a genuine contender alongside Langdon as Australia look to post two men on the podium.
With a pair of silver medals to his name already in New Delhi, Rheed McCracken (NSW, Louise Sauvage, T34) is ready to rumble one final time in today’s 800m T34 final, qualifying with ease yesterday.
Picking up silver in the 100m and 400m T34 events earlier in the program, the stalwart of Australian wheelchair racing extends his range to the two-lap distance in which he won bronze at the Paris Paralympic Games last year – his best more than good enough to nail a third medal of the championships.
Teenager Telaya Blacksmith (NSW, Jacinta Doyle, T20) has endured a tough program with her first event in the 400m on the opening day of competition and Long Jump falling today on day nine of competition, but the Walpiri woman is ready to fire as the national record holder at 5.50m.
A trio of Australians will feature in the 400m T38 final as Briseis Brittain (NT, Roger Chin, T38), Rhiannon Clarke (WA, Danny Kevan, T38) and Layla Sharp (NSW, Rob Marks, T38) all progressed from yesterday’s heats, with the fastest of those being Brittain who continues to impress on debut all the way from Arnhem Land and Ramingining.
Elsewhere, Ella Hose (VIC, John Eden, F37) will contest the Discus Throw F38 final, while Akeesha Snowden (SA, Lynn Larsen, T37) will look to upgrade her two fourth-place finishes so far to a medal in the 200m T37.
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 5/10/2025
