Smeenk still in contention at World Para Athletics championships

In this morning’s T34 800m heats at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, Austin Smeenk qualified for the final, which runs tomorrow night. Smeenk was fourth in his heat, finishing in 1:47.84.

Austin Smeenk tells us all about the season he has had this year and the importance of his new racing chair. Click the link to learn more about @austin_smeenk and watch him race tomorrow in the Men's 800m T34 Final https://t.co/Qzbjsq0DEA #SuperSeries @AthleticsCanada pic.twitter.com/aqTwCFGGpE

— Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) November 14, 2019

Lee Leclerc also competed, but did not advance.

Two-time Parapan Am Games gold medallist and Canadian record-holder Guillaume Oullet finished three seconds off the podium in the men’s T13 5,000m, in a season’s best 14:45.63. (El Amin Chentouf, who set a world para athletics record in the T13 marathon at this year’s London Marathon, finished seventh, in 14:52.64.) T13 is one of the categories for visually impaired runners.

?? @ouellet86 with a strong performance in the men’s 5000m T13 final, finishes 4th with a season’s best time of 14:45.63 ??#Dubai2019 pic.twitter.com/7eRUxqUiQP

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) November 14, 2019

RELATED: Austin Ingram sets Canadian visually impaired record at WPA Championships

In yesterday’s Universal 4 x 100m mixed relay, Canada’s team of Austin Ingram, Marissa Papacontantinou, Zachary Gingras and Jessica Frotten did not advance to the final despite finishing second in their heat, in 50.38.

Brent Lakatos was scheduled to compete in the men’s T54 5,000m yesterday but pulled out with health concerns.

Austin Smeenk tells us all about the season he has had this year and the importance of his new racing chair. Click the link to learn more about @austin_smeenk and watch him race tomorrow in the Men's 800m T34 Final https://t.co/Qzbjsq0DEA #SuperSeries @AthleticsCanada pic.twitter.com/aqTwCFGGpE

— Canadian Paralympic Committee (@CDNParalympics) November 14, 2019

RELATED: Lakatos wins Canada’s first two medals at World Para Athletics Championships

Para classifications

In Para athletics, athletes are classified according to the degree of limitation resulting from their impairment.

T/F51, T/F52, T/F53, T/F54, F55, F56, F57 refer to athletes who compete in a wheelchair. The lower the number, the higher the degree of activity limitation.

F40, F41 refer to athletes of short stature who compete while standing. T/F42, T/F43, T/F44 refer to athletes with a lower limb loss or limitation who compete while standing. T/F45, T/F46 and T/F47 refer to athletes with an upper limb loss or limitation who compete while standing.

The universal 4x100m relay team of Ingram, @marissa_paps, @ZachGingras, and @jessica_frotten finishes with a time of 50.38 to finish 2nd in Heat 4 at the 2019 World @ParaAthletics Championships ?#Dubai2019

— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) November 14, 2019

F31, T/F32, T/F33 and T/F34 refer to athletes with athetosis, ataxia and/or hypertonia who compete in a wheelchair. T/F35, T/F36, T/F37 and T/F38 refer to athletes with athetosis, ataxia and/or hypertonia who compete in a standing position.

T/F11, T/F refers to athletes who are blind. T/F12 refers to athletes with very limited vision, and T/F13 refers to athletes with limited vision.

For more information on athlete classification, click here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4hk0kDBYJI/

You can catch all the action in Dubai at the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC sports app for IOS or Android, or the Canadian Paralympic Team Facebook page. For full results, click here.