IRELAND’S MICHAEL MCKILLOP has successfully defended his 1500m title at the 2015 IPC Paralympic Athletics World Championships in Doha this evening in superb style, claiming the gold medal in a time of 4:16.21.
It’s the Antrim native’s seventh world championship gold medal and his second of the week after victory in the 800m last Saturday. In all this brings to twelve the number of major championship medals McKillop has won.
In 33 degree heat and high humidity at the Qatar Sports Club, the reigning Paralympic champion and world record holder showed his dominance of the event by making a decisive break with over 500m to go.
After a slow start McKillop turned on the speed just before they hit the bell and pushed clear of long time challenger Brad Scott to finish almost five seconds ahead of the Australian on the line.
Majid Djemai of Algeria took bronze in 4:29.94.
Speaking afterwards McKillop, who is coached by his dad Paddy said;
“It’s been a really long hard year, so to leave the Middle East with two gold medals is just amazing. It was a tough race but when you have the determination to conquer you can do anything.”
Irish team manager James Nolan added:
“I had full confidence in Michael over 1500m. Although he has had a year plagued with injury and hasn’t been able to do as much training as he would have liked, he is a thoroughbred and the perfect build for the 1500m upwards.
“There was no way anyone in that field was going to trouble Michael.”
Wheelchair racer John McCarthy was on the track shortly after McKillop in the semi-finals of the T51 400m.
The Cork native finished second ain a time of 1:36.03 to advance to the final seventh fastest, on the concluding day of competition tomorrow.
