McKillop puts 13-year unbeaten run on the line in Doha contest

NEWTOWNABBEY’S Michael McKillop goes for an amazing 10th gold medal at World level in today’s final session of the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai.

The 29-year-old will be competing in the T37 1,500 metres event which involves athletes with mild cerebral palsy. Michael holds the Championship record of 4 mins 10 secs and will be defending the title which he retained in London just over two years ago.

Like NI sprint compatriot Jason Smyth, Michael has enjoyed an illustrious 13-year unbeaten career in this event, plus the 800 metres.

He was victorious in Assen in 2006 with gold over the shorter distance. This was then followed by two golds in each World Championship in Christchurch (2011), Lyon (2013), Doha (2015) and London in 2017.

On each occasion he has dominated the opposition either by his hectic pace or finishing sprinting ability in a tactical race. In the latter, he has relied on his speed, as shown by his personal best over 800 metres of under 1 min 55 secs.

Today, however, McKillop may have to call on all his tactical exfour pertise to defeat serious rival Liam Stanley.

The 22-year-old former Canadian para athlete of the year goes to the start line with a much superior best time this year of 4 mins 5.70 secs. This is substantially faster than the Michael’s 4 mins 11.40 secs from Drogheda back in July.

The Belfast man’s preparations for these championships have been far from ideal with only track races in the summer due to injury. He did not compete at all in 2018.

In the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Michael got the better of Stanley in the final 200 metres and won by 50 metres. The result was much closer in London two years ago with McKillop winning a tactical battle in a slow 4 mins 46 secs.

The same thing may happen today, but the result this time is far from certain.

Nevertheless, the St Malachy’s man is a superb tactician and a slow run race may play to his advantage and ensure that his unbroken record from 2006 is maintained.

Also racing in the different T38 category over 1,500 metres is Downpatrick’s David Leavy, who has a season’s best of 4 mins 30 secs.

He will do well to get close to the medals from a highly competitive 11 man field which includes favourite Canadian Nat Rich, who has a classy personal best this year of 3 mins 57 secs.

Ireland’s Greta Streimikyte finished fifth in the T13 1,500 metres final in a time of 4 mins 48.75 secs. The race was won by Morocco’s Fatima Idrissi in 4.39.62.

Mary Fitzgerald competes today in the Women’s F50 shot, where she is ranked seventh from 13 competitors.