IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final | London, Great Britain

Great Britain’s track stars gave the London crowds plenty to cheer about on Sunday (26 July) as two world records fell out on the track at the IPC Athletics Grand Prix Final, part of three days of action at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games in the British capital.

Georgina Hermitage smashed her own world record in the women’s 400m T37 and her compatriot Sophie Hahn followed moments later with a win and a new world record in the women’s 100m T38.

Just five weeks after breaking the world record which had previously stood for 15 years, Hermitage was at it again - this time in the former Olympic Stadium.

The 26-year-old looked in great shape as she powered round the track from the gun, coming off the final bend well clear of the rest of the field and crossing the line in 1:02.48, well clear of France’s European silver medallist Mandy Francois-Elie who was second in 1:06.36

Not to be out done, Great Britain’s world champion Sophie Hahn was next out on the track in the women’s 100m T38 – and she knocked a phenomenal 0.04 seconds off her own world record mark as she stormed home in 13.00.

The 18-year-old enjoyed a terrific start out of the blocks and her early lead proved too much for Russia’s Paralympic champion Margarita Goncharova, who chased hard to the line to finish second in 13.07.

Victory did not all go the host country’s way however as the USA’s world and Paralympic silver medallist Richard Browne got the better of his great track rival Jonnie Peacock to win the 100m T44.

Back on the same track where he set the world record at the Anniversary Games two years ago, Browne went in to the race in superb form, having set a new world lead of 10.72 earlier in the week.

It was Browne’s compatriot Jarryd Wallace – the 200m world champion – who got off to a terrific start out of the blocks but with 50 metres to go Browne pushed hard to the front.

Crossing the line in 10.96, with Peacock second in 11.02, Browne punched the air in delight.

Switzerland’s Marcel Hug controlled the race from the gun as he went on to clock a new stadium record of 3:04.15 to take the win in the men’s 1,500m T54 with Thailand’s Rawat Tana second in 3:04.40. Great Britain’s David Weir finished fifth in 3:04.80.

The Netherlands’ world and European champion Marlou van Rhijn maintained her winning ways as she finished strongly to win the 100m T44 in 13.04, a new stadium record. Great Britain’s Sophie Kamlish was second (13.66) with her compatriot Laura Sugar third (13.74).

The 100m T53 went to form as Canada’s Brent Lakatos, the 100m T53 world champion and world record holder took the tape in 15.07 ahead of Pongsakorn Paeyo (15.54).

Great Britain’s Richard Whitehead got the crowds roaring again as he came through in the final 50m to take victory in the men’s 200m T42 (25.79). There was added joy for fellow Briton David Henson who took silver (26.53).

Another win went Great Britain’s way as Hannah Cockroft secured victory in the 400m T34. The Briton clocked 1:03.67 having never looked in doubt.

There was a win too for Great Britain’s Libby Clegg who powered home to win the 200m T12 (25.22) well clear of her two Chinese sprint rivals Cuiqing Liu and Guohua Zhou.

Switzerland’s Manuela Schaer took control of the women’s 1,500m T54 as she cruised home to win in 3:38.50. The European champion stretched the field with two laps to go as the USA’s Chelsea McClammer (T53) tried hard to stay in touch, finishing in second place (3:40.79)

Full results can be found here: http://bit.ly/1JJJtE5

Athletes will now get ready for the IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar, between 22-31 October.