Sprinter’s gold is welcome surprise
HAVING only been back on the track for a week, Libby Clegg was not expecting much from Sunday’s Anniversary Games.
But after winning in London, the Bollington sprinter admits she is confident of more success at the World Championships later this year.
The 25-year-old claimed gold in the T12 200m at the Olympic Stadium at the weekend alongside her guide Mikail Huggins, in a promising time of 25.22 seconds – just 0.12 off her national record.
She pipped the Chinese duo of Liu Cuiqing and Zhou Guohua, of whom the latter had run the quickest time in the world so far this year.
And having fully recovered from a back injury and bruising to the ball of her left foot that had plagued her season so far, Clegg is expecting only to go faster and faster in the build up to the Worlds in Doha.
“I’ve had a few injuries and only been back on the track a week, so I really didn’t know what to expect,” she said.
“Zhou was the world leader this year and obviously got a silver medal here in London a few years ago, and it was a tough draw in lane eight.
“But we got out well and were waiting for them to try and get us on the bend.
“I feel like I’m on good form and that’s only going to get better in the few races I have now before Doha. So fingers crossed everything goes to plan and no more injures!
“Doha is important confidence-wise as a stepping stone for Rio, as if you pick up gold there it really sets you up well. But you can never predict what could happen.”
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