Katrina Hart wins 100m gold for England at Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games
University of Bath Sports Performance student Katrina Hart struck gold at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth Games.
The 20-year-old Paralympic athlete sprinted to gold in the T37 100m final to claim England’s first athletics gold medal of the Games.
And she did it in style, setting a British record of 14.36 seconds. She becomes the first University of Bath-based athlete to claim a medal in Delhi.
Hart, who is coached by Rob Ellchuk at the University, said she was pushed all the way Jenny McLoughlin of Wales, who took silver.
“I didn’t get off to the best start, but Jenny pushed me all the way and that’s probably why I got a personal best,” said Hart. “She was with me all the time.”
Stephen Baddeley, Director of Sport at the University of Bath – himself a four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist in badminton, said: “I’d like to congratulate Katrina on her success today. It was a fabulous achievement. It’s always great to see our students performing so well on an international stage.”
Rob Ellchuck, who coaches Hart, said: “I’m absolutely over the moon with how well Katrina performed today, She’s had a long season, but she’s come through like the champion we know she is. It sets her up nicely for the World Championships in New Zealand in January.”
Hart won bronze in the 100m at the 2005 European Championships aged just 15, then finished fourth over 200m and fifth over 100m at the 2006 World Championships. A seventh place finish followed in the T37 100m final at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Meanwhile former TeamBath athlete Zoe Derham, who worked as a receptionist at the Sports Training Village, won the bronze medal in the hammer for England today with a throw of 64.04.
Swimmer Chris Walker-Hebborn went close to medalling yesterday (Wednesday) finishing fourth in the 200m backstroke final and finishing fifth in England’s 4×200 freestyle relay team.
Stacey Tadd reached the final of the women’s 200m breaststroke, finishing sixth.
