Toronto 2015: Preview of Tuesday’s athletics action

Many of the world’s fastest leg amputee sprinters will go head-to-head over 100m on Tuesday (11 August) in the most anticipated track race of the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.

In a race that could see the world record smashed, the USA’s Richard Browne will start as favourite to land his major title having not lost a race since winning silver at the 2013 World Championships. Browne’s T44 world record for single leg amputee stands at 10.75 seconds and he may have to run close to that to beat off the challenge of defending champion and teammate Jarryd Wallace who has run 10.92 this season.

The US duo may not have it their own way however, with Brazil’s Alan Oliveira looking for a return to form ahead of October’s World Championships. Having sat out most of last year, Oliveira, the T43 world record holder with a time of 10.57 seconds, showed a glimpse of his potential earlier this year running 11.00 seconds in one of his first races back.

The men’s 100m T43/44 final is one of 26 medal events that will be decided on Tuesday at the CIBC Pan Am/Parapan Am Athletics Stadium.

Other potential headline makers on the second of track and field competition include the USA’s Raymond Martin, Cuba’s Omara Duran and Brazil’s Terezinha Guilhermina.

In 2013 Martin rewrote the record books by becoming the first man to win five world titles at one World Championships and in Toronto is looking to win three Parapan titles, starting with the 100m T52.

Durand could also rewrite the record books for a second successive day when she goes for gold in the women’s 100m T12. The 23-year-old became the world’s fastest female para-athlete on Monday when she ran 11.65 seconds in the heats.

Likewise, Guilhermina, a winner of eight world and three Paralympic titles, will be hoping she can go under 12 seconds for the first as she looks to retain her 100m T11 crown.

The USA’s David Brown will be aiming for double gold when he goes in the men’s 100m and 400m T11 events, but will face competition from Brazil’s Lucas Prado.

The men’s 400m T20 could be an absolute thriller between the Venezuelan pair of Edixon Pirela and Luis Arturo Paiva who are separated by just 0.06 seconds this season.

Venezuela will also be hoping Yomaira Cohen can cause an upset in the javelin F37/38 when she goes head-to-to-head with Brazil’s Paralympic champion Shirlene Coelho.

After winning practically every title in recent years, Mexican veteran Angeles Ortiz Hernandez will be confident of retaining the shot put title she won four years ago when she competes in the F56/57 event.

The track and field competition at the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games will feature 377 athletes competing in 145 medal events between 10-14 August.

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