Jonnie Peacock retains title as GB claims four Paralympic sprint golds

Jonnie Peacock, Georgie Hermitage, Sophie Hahn and Libby Clegg took gold medals on a glorious night for British sprinting on day two of the action at the Rio Paralympics.

Peacock, one of GB’s best known Paralympians after he won gold in London 2012, clocked 10.81 to equal the Paralympic record he had set in the semi-final.

The 23-year-old won with much greater ease than expected. American Jarryd Wallace, who beat Peacock at the IPC Grand Prix Final in London in July, was with the eventual winner for the first 30 metres but faded badly to fifth and 11.16.

The Brit’s closest rival was ultimately Liam Malone of New Zealand, who as a double-leg amputee competing against single-prosthetics-wearers like Peacock stormed through from nowhere over the last 50 metres to run 11.02. Germany’s Felix Streng was one hundredth behind as he took bronze.

It has been a great return to the top for Peacock, who had to miss last year’s IPC World Championships through injury and had for a time ceded his dominance of the event as American Richard Browne improved the world record before his unexpected retirement this year.

Hermitage took more than two tenths of a second from her world record with 13.13 as she convincingly won her 100m T37 race. France’s Mandy Francois-Elie took silver with 13.45 and bronze went to Venezuela’s Yescarly Medina in 13.85.

“I am a Paralympic gold medallist, it is an amazing feeling,” said Hermitage, who competes in the cerebral palsy classifications. “I couldn’t have asked for more today. I was worrying so much in warm-up and call room. I am such an over-thinker but I’ve won on the biggest stage and I’m delighted. To win the gold today is such a relief and shows all the hard work has paid off.”

Hermitage won gold only in the 400m in last year’s IPC Worlds, but hopes later this week to add the one-lap and 4x100m Paralympic titles.

“Of course the dream is to win more gold medals (this week), but we will have to see – fingers crossed,” she said. “I can only be the best I can be now, but I treat every race like my last and give it everything.”

Less than 10 minutes after Hermitage’s win, Hahn finished well clear in 12.62 to equal the T38 Paralympic record she set in qualifying. She was just two …

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