Toronto 2015: Preview of Thursday’s athletics action

Thursday’s athletics action could preview what is to come at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, as USA’s David Brown and Brazil’s Lucas Prado take their marks in the men’s 200m T11 finals of the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

The duo will return to the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium, where Brown hopes to snag another gold medal on day four (13 August). The 22-year-old is coming off a win in the men’s 100m T11 on Tuesday, when he outkicked Prado by more than a tenth of a second with a time of 10.95.

Now, Brown – the current world and American 200m T11 record holder – will aim to dethrone Prado, who has won both 200m Parapan Am titles at Guadalajara 2011 and Rio 2007.

The men’s 200m T11 is just one of 22 medals up for grabs on Thursday. Cuba’s five-time Paralympic champion Yunidis Castillo will race in her final event in Toronto 2015 in the women’s 200m T47 after winning 100m gold on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s rising talent in 2013 world champion Veronica Hipolito is just getting started. The 19-year-old will take her marks in the women’s 200m T38, looking for her second gold medal in Toronto after her 100m win on Tuesday and adding to her country’s collection of medals that would keep Brazil atop the standings.

USA’s four-time London 2012 Paralympic champion Raymond Martin will aim to follow up his 100m T52 win with another gold in the men’s 400m event.

In the field events, nine medals will be up for the taking, with eyes on USA’s two-time Paralympic champion Jeremy Campbell returning to the Parapan Am scene and going for gold in the men’s discus throw F44. The 27-year-old has not had much international competition this year, and that may hinder his pursuit for gold, along with fellow American David Blair challenging. Blair is coming off a gold-medal throw from July’s IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final in London, Great Britain, which handed Campbell the silver.

The track and field competition at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games will feature 377 athletes competing in 114 medal events between 10-14 August.

A live stream will be available via the IPC Athletics homepage.