Peacock, van Rhijn and Oliveira all win in Manchester

Marlou Van Rhijn of Netherlands crosses the line to win gold in the Women's 200m - T44 Final at the Paralympic Games in London © • Getty images Alan Fonteles Cardoso Oliveira will try to defend his title in front of the Brazilian crowd during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. © • Marcus Hartmann

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“I’m the most pleased with the competition, not really the race itself. It wasn’t really a fast time, but it was really a fun race. It was so cool running down the street in the middle of the city, straight to the shopping mall!”

Great Britain's Paralympic champion Jonnie Peacock gave his home crowd plenty to cheer about as he romped to victory in the 100m T43/44 at the BT Great City Games in Manchester, Great Britain on Saturday (25 May).

The 19-year-old sped out of the blocks and held on to secure victory in his first race back from injury since winning gold at the Paralympic Games in London nine months ago.

Peacock clocked 11.46 seconds on the specially-laid street track, well shy of the world record mark he set in Indiana last year, but he still crossed the line comfortably clear of US Paralympian Blake Leeper who finished in 11.74 seconds, with David Prince and Ronald Hertog finishing third and fourth respectively.

“I’m relatively happy to take the win,” said Peacock. “Blake Leeper is always fun to run against - it’s always tough racing against those guys - but today I came here with only one plan and that was to drive hard to the first 80m and have a good start. I did that, and kind of failed towards the end of the race, but we’ve got lots of time to work on that.”

After ruling out the earlier part of this year due to injury, Peacock was keen to show he was back in form on his return to competition.

“It was a vital first race of the season, and a first win. I wasn’t defeated last year in events and hopefully I can keep that going for a while. It’s just good to get a base. Now I’ve just got to try and stay in front. It’s fun being the one to catch as it gives me more power and control. I’m still the man to beat for now.”

Earlier, the Netherlands’ Marlou van Rhijn enjoyed a convincing win in the women’s 100m T43/44, the only athlete to stop the clock under 14 seconds with a time of 13.69 seconds. The ‘Blade Babe’ remained level-headed about her win though, having run faster the week before.

“I’m the most pleased with the competition, not really the race itself,” said the Paralympic 200m T44 champion. “It wasn’t really a fast time, but it was really a fun race. It was so cool running down the street in the middle of the city, straight to the shopping mall!”

Sophie Kamlish took second, with long jumpers Stef Reid and Iris Pruysen in third and fourth.

Pruysen had already enjoyed her moment of glory in the Manchester sunshine, winning the T42/44 long jump with a best jump of 4.78m.

“It’s my third long jump competition this year and I’m really pleased,” said the Dutchwoman. “I went really close to my personal best from London, and to jump that in my third competition in the middle of the city was great.”

Pruysen finished a frustrating fourth at the Games in London, beaten to the medals by Australian Kelly Cartwright, Britain's Stefanie Reid and France's Marie-Amelie Le Fur. The opportunity to banish her demons in Manchester was one she relished: “I was really excited to jump against Stef and Kelly as they were one and two in London, so the fact that I came first here was great. It’s an important feeling because now I know that we are on the same level, so it’s good for my confidence.”

Australia’s World and Paralympic champion Cartwright finished in second place, clearing 3.84m in only her first competition since undergoing surgery at the end of last year.

After four months recovery, Cartwright was keen to get a competition under her belt – and officially secure the Australian Paralympic standard required to compete at the IPC World Championships in two months’ time. A trip to the local hospital that morning to ease pain in her stump as a result of the long flight from Australia didn’t dent the 24-year-old’s determination.

“It’s tough coming out today in my first competition since London, and not doing anywhere near what I wish I was,” explained Cartwright.

“It’s not where I wanted to be jumping – in training I’ve been jumping over four metres. I’m a bit disappointed but at the same time it’s an ‘A’ qualifier for the World Championships, which is what I needed to do and wanted to come out and do. I’ve got six solid weeks now to get to the World Championships, and I’ll be 100 per cent focussing on training.”

The final event of the IPC programme was the 200m men’s T43/44, and Paralympic champion Alan Oliveira lived up to expectations as he took victory in a time of 22.30 seconds. David Prince finished in second place, whilst it was a disappointing end to the day for Leeper, who eased up in the latter stages of the race after the support for his prosthetic slipped.

“I really enjoyed the race, even though the time was not close to my time in London,” said the Brazilian, who raced over 150m on Copacabana beach back in March. “I didn’t have the right awareness of space, as running 200m in a straight line as opposed to with a curve is completely different. The big aim was to get close to the time I did in London and of course to win the race. For me it is important to come back to England and be able to win.”