Lakatos and Stilwell have silver touch

Brent Lakatos – London Paralympics 2012

London, UK – Brent Lakatos of Dorval, Que., and Michelle Stilwell of Nanoose Bay, B.C., each won silver medals today, Canada’s fifth and sixth medals on this the sixth day of track and field competition at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Lakatos finished second in the men’s T53 classification wheelchair 800-metres in a personal best time of 1:41.24. “This was a little bit of a tactical race but it was also very fast. A day’s rest was helpful; 800-metres is not my strongest race but I’ll take a silver medal any day”. He adds, “I’m really looking forward to the 200-metres”. This is Brent’s second silver medal at these Games having also placed second in the 400-metres.

A little bit later in the same competition session Michelle Stilwell finished second to take silver in the women’s T54 wheelchair 100-metres. Stilwell crossed the finish line just behind Belgium’s Marieke Vervoort in 19.80 seconds. Vervoort won the race in 19.69 seconds.”I gave everything I had. My start wasn’t good but my top speed was, the competition is getting harder and harder.” She adds, “I’m glad I got a silver and will go back to my family now to celebrate.” This is her fourth Paralympic medal and her second at these Games after winning gold this past weekend in the 200-metres.

The men’s 4×100-metres visually impaired relay team of Brandon King and guide Andrew Heffernan, both of Ottawa, Ont., Braedon Dolfo of Langley, B.C., Jonathan Dunkerley of Ottawa, Ont., with guide Sean Young of Peterborough, Ont., and Dustin Walsh of Coquitlam, B.C., with guide Dylan Williamson of Langley, B.C., finished sixth overall in a time of 44.90 seconds.

In the women’s T54 wheelchair 800-metres final Diane Roy of Sherbrook, Que., crossed the line in 1:54.90 for seventh overall. Tomorrow Diane shifts her attention to the heats of the 1500-metres along with teammate Keira-Lyn Frie of Saskatoon, Sask., at 12:29pm local time (7:29am eastern time)

Josh Cassidy of Ottawa, Ont., will race in the men’s T54 800-metres final tomorrow evening at 9:16pm local time (4:16pm eastern time). Josh finished fourth in his heat today in a seasonal best time of 1:38.24. “The 800-metres isn’t my race, but I’m glad of the way it turned out today, it was really close.” He adds, “Tomorrow will be another attempt for me in a final before the marathon on the weekend.”

It was a busy day for Alexandre Dupont of Bradwell, Sask., who raced in the men’s T54 wheelchair 400 and 800-metre heats. Dupont finished third in his heat in the 400-metres in 51.17 seconds and sixth in the 800-metres in 1:39.73, but it was not enough to advance to either events final.

Curtis Thom of Mississauga, Ont., and Colin Mathieson of Winnipeg, Man., also raced in the men’s T54 wheelchair 800-metres finishing fifth in 48.57 seconds and sixth in 51.17 seconds. Neither advanced to the final.