Paralympics: First stadium world record breaker gets gold

Paralympics: First stadium world record breaker gets gold
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Summary Wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft took the women's T34 100m in 18.06secs, 0.50secs.

The British athlete who set the first world record at the Olympic Stadium during a test event earlier this year on Friday won the countrys debut track gold, this time beating the Paralympic record.Wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft took the womens T34 100m in 18.06secs, 0.50secs faster than the then world best she set at the east London venue during competition back in May.The 20-year-old, who won the T34 100m and 200m double at the world championships last year, has since lowered her own world record to 17.60secs at the Swiss National Championships.After the race, she said: I didnt know whether to cry or laugh or what to do.Its a little bit surreal when youre dreaming about it for so long and then it just kind of happens in, what, 18 seconds. Youre kind of like, I want to do that again, I can do that better. But Ive got it now and I cant complain.The stadium was again near its 80,000 capacity after heats on Friday morning and Cockroft paid tribute to the support from the gun and she crossed the finish line.Everyone went mental. It was absolutely amazing. I cant describe it, it was phenomenal, she added.Cockroft, who has cerebral palsy and calls her wheelchair Sally, is now hoping to go one better and take the 200m title.Kenyas David Rushida became the first track athlete to break a world record in the Olympic Stadium, when he stormed to gold in the 800m in 1min 40.91secs.
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