DEDICATION

& Northern Ireland the last of their 39 medals here, a tally which left the hosts third behind China and the USA in the overall table. Nine more than the target set at the outset of a championships which have exceeded expectations off the track with an unprecedented volume of crowds and attention.

With fresh names emerging, it bodes well for the next Paralympic Games, and beyond. British Athletics head coach Paula Dunn declared. “Some of the youngsters have made the podiums who maybe weren’t expected to make that big leap but have done it. That’s really pleasing.

“Look at Sammi. We saw it coming. But two golds and a bronze have given her a real- ly good platform to build on. We have some of the guys from 2012 who are still producing like Jonnie Peacock, Hannah Cockroft, Stef Reid and Rich Whitehead. But it’s demonstrating our pathway is working

SAMMI KINGHORN and that we have youngsters coming through to make podiums.”

Meanwhile, Jemma Reekie’s status as a potential star in the making was reinforced as the Scot took a superb 1500 metres gold at the European Junior Championships in Grosseto.

The 19-year-old, who trains alongside Laura Muir, had to rebound from fading to fourth place in Saturday’s 3000m final when silver looked a certainty. And she brilliantly bolted clear on the last lap to win in 4:13.25, with British teammate Harriet Knowles-jones landing bronze.

“It was all motivation from the 3000m,” Reekie confirmed. “Not doing what I wanted. I wanted to put it all out here and leave everything

“I knew that I wanted it after Rio. I wanted it more than anything. I wanted to be the best in the world so I’ve just trained and trained”