Peacock’s plea for more integration

British track athletes issued a plea for more paralympic sport competitions after taking silver in the mixed relay event which proved one of the hit events of the tokyo Games. the 4x100metres universal relay saw visually-impaired Libby Clegg run the first 100m leg, followed by Jonnie Peacock, whose electrifying run brought GB closer, Ali smith, who has muscular challenges, and wheelchair racer Nathan Maguire. the event triggered a huge reaction on social media after UsA had won, followed by China, who were later disqualified for an infringement between changeovers. Peacock (right) and Maguire both said it made the case for greater integration. Peacock declared that the response to para-athletes when stadiums were full was even greater than that for able-bodied competitors, yet there was still a reluctance to incorporate this sport into the athletics calendar. Maguire said: ‘We need more races. i am lucky that when i get home, i will compete at the Zurich Diamond League. they have put a wheelchair race on. But it’s a token event of the year. i race that one every year. But other than that i don’t get any competitions round Europe. ‘if you put it more in front of people’s faces then more people will support it and be on an even playing field with the Olympics as well.’ As expected, Clegg made this the last race of her Paralympic career. GB’s relay silver was one of six athletics medals, including gold for Jonathan Broom-Edwards in the high jump. Games debutant Owen Miller, 29, came from fifth place with 400m to go and overtook russian Alexandr rabotnitskii on the last bend to win his 1500m classification. richard Whitehead took silver in the 200m while defending champion hollie Arnold could only take bronze in the F46 javelin. there was also bronze for hannah taunton in the women’s t20 1500m.