Polly Maton hails community and London 2017 support after top-five finish at World Para-Athletics Champs
Polly Maton has thanked the University of Bath and the local community for their support after contesting the first of her two finals at the London 2017 IPC World Para-Athletics Championships.
The 17-year-old, coached by Colin Baross at the Sports Training Village, ran a season’s best of 13.04 as she finished fifth in the T47 100m final at the London Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.
While she was slightly disappointed with her time, Maton was thrilled to get out on the famous London track and experience the roar from the home crowd.
“I was hoping to run sub-13 but I’ve had a bit of a problem with my calf the last couple of days,” she said.
“It was so exciting just to be out there running. I was obviously too young for London 2012 but to have the crowd cheering you on like that means the world.”
Pictures by Paul Gregory for the IPC
Maton, from Urchfont in Wiltshire and a student at Dauntsey’s School, will experience that support again when she competes in the T47 long jump final on Sunday.
It is her third major international competition in as many years, following on from the Doha 2015 World Championships and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, and Maton was quick to thank those who have helped her represent her country at the very highest level.
“So many people have helped me get here – my coach Colin Baross, my family, the National Lottery, British Athletics and also amazing support from the local community,” she said.
“From St Mary’s Calne Sports Centre who let me train in their gym for free to the University of Bath who have allowed me to train in their elite sessions and the Lions Club who got me involved in athletics – the local community has just been amazing.
“Hopefully, as a young athlete, I will keep on progressing and my main target is Tokyo 2020.”
