Arizona Grand Prix: Five of the Best

The World Para Athletics Grand Prix series heads to Arizona, USA, for the sixth consecutive year, with the event taking place 15-16 June.

This year the meeting doubles as the US Nationals so expect some big performances – but first, here’s a look back at the top five moments from years gone by.

Long-standing world records fall

In 2017, Paralympic silver medallist Cassie Mitchell broke the 1,500m T51 world record which had stood for no less than 28 years. Scot Samantha Kinghorn claimed her first ever world record at the 2017 Grand Prix, clocking 28.67 in the 200m T53 and lowering the mark set by US racer Jessica Galli five years previously.

Wallace is sprint king

US sprinter Jarryd Wallace clocked 10.92 at the meeting in 2015 before going on to win the Parapan Am Games in what was then world record time (10.71) just three months later. In fact, the American won the 100m T44 the following two years too – clocking 10.78 in 2016 and 11.31 in 2017.

Morrison starts as she means to go on

In 2015 Rachel Morrison made her Grand Prix debut in Arizona, winning both the discus and club throw F51 events with throws of 7.11m and 18.03m respectively. She went on to win discus gold and club throw silver at Doha 2015.

Young star in the making

Alexa Halko was just 14 years old in 2015, but even then the T34 wheelchair racer showed great promise, winning the women’s 100m T33/34/51/52 in 19.25 and clocking 35.08 over 200m. Now 17, she has 3 Paralympic and 5 world medals to her name.

Throwers in form

Great Britain’s Aled Davies kicked off his 2016 season in superb style, extending his shot put world record to 16.13m while USA’s David Blair smashed the discus F44 world record with a phenomenal 63.61m effort.