IPC Athletics World Championship comes to an end; Canada wins 15 medals

Athletics Canada

Lyon, France – The International Paralympic Committe (IPC) Athletics World Championship came to an end today in Lyon, France as racers crossed the finish line in the men’s and women’s T54 classification wheelchair marathon.  Canadian athletes are coming home with 15 medals, seven of which are gold, a World Record, 19 Canadian Records and seven IPC World Championship Records.

Today, the last day of competition at the 2013 IPC World Championships, saw Keira-Lyn Frie of Saskatoon, Sask., finish seventh in the women’s T54 classification wheelchair marathon final. In the men’s race neither Josh Cassidy of Ottawa, Ont., nor Jean-Paul Compaore of Sherbrooke, Que., finished the event.

Canada’s medal haul was led by Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., who won a medal in every event he contested.  Lakatos won 3 gold (T53 100m, 200m, 400m) and a silver (T53 800m). He also raced the first leg of the T53/54 wheelchair 4×400-metre relay which captured gold. Along with Lakatos the 4×400-metres relay gold medalists were Curtis Thom of Ottawa, Ont., Jean-Paul Compaore of Sherbrooke, Que., and Alexandre Dupont of Clarenceville, Que.

Nanoose Bay, B.C.’s Michelle Stilwell won three gold medals and successfully defended her 2011 Championship titles in the T52 wheelchair 100 and 200-metres.  She also won gold in the T52 wheelchair 800-metres. In the wheelchair 800-metres Stilwell established a new World Record of 2:14.79 coming under Canadian Lisa Franks’ record of 2:16.71 which had stood since 2005.

Becky Richter of Saskatoon, Sask., won silver medals in the T51 classification seated discus throw and club throw.  She also set new Canadian Records in both events.

Windsor, Ont.’s Virginia McLachlan secured a pair of silver medals and Canadian Records in the T35 classification ambulatory 100 and 200-metres.

Jean-Paul Compaore of Sherbrooke, Que., Ilana Dupont of Clarenceville, Que., and Pamela Le Jean of Halifax, N.S., all picked up bronze medals. Aside from his gold as part of the 4×400-metres relay Compaore won bronze in the T54 wheelchair 10000-metres. Bronze was won by Ilana Dupont in the T53 wheelchair 100-metres, Le Jean picked up a bronze in the T53 seated shot put throw.

At the last showing of the IPC World Championships in 2011 Canada came away with 12 medals, including four gold.

Canadians set seven IPC World Championship Records

• Team Canada T53/54 4x400m relay team, 3:11.33 (Lakatos, Thom, Compaore, Dupont)
• Brent Lakatos T53 100m final (14.51), 100m semi-final (14.58), 200m final (25.46), 200m semi-final (26.00), 400m (49.02)
• Michelle Stilwell T52 800m final (2:14.79); World Record.

19 Canadian Records

For complete results and more from Team Canada at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championship  visit: www.worlds2013.athletics.ca.