Grace Norman broke the T44 world record in Indianapolis ©Twitter

America’s Austin Pruitt and Grace Norman produced world record performances at the Indianapolis International and Fast Cow Invitational.

Pruitt had set the world record in the men’s 5,000 metres in the T34 classification race at last year’s event at the Michael A. Carroll Stadium and he was able to shave another 27 seconds off his previous best this time. 

Competing in the T34/53/54 race the 2012 London Paralympian crossed the line in 11min 45.87sec to set the new benchmark.

He later claimed a narrow victory in the T34 800m, posting a time of 1:50.72 to take the win, 0.17 seconds ahead of Australia’s Rheed McCracken.

Over the shorter distance of 800m, 17-year-old Grace Norman broke France’s Marie-Amelie Le Fur’s 10-year-old women’s T44 world record by 10 seconds as she crossed the line in 2:28.87.

The world record continues  the teenager's superb form, having become the national champion last week in the women’s 400m at the US Paralympics Track and Field National Championships in St Paul, Minneapolis.

Erik Hightower claimed two victories and broke the T54 men’s 100m American record
Erik Hightower claimed two victories and broke the T54 men’s 100m American record ©AFP/Getty Images

As the national champion, it was no surprise that she triumphed over the same distance in Indianapolis as she recorded a time of 1:06.46 to take the victory.

She was also the winner of the 1500m by finishing in 4:58.68.

The event also saw further success for home athletes as Erik Hightower set a new national record of 14.70sec to win the T54 men’s 100m ahead of Britain’s Richard Chiassaro, 0.36 seconds back in second.

Hightower had also beaten the Briton to claim victory in the 400m race earlier in the day, recording a winning time of 48.47.

Chiassaro was forced to settle for second in the 800m , three seconds adrift of America’s Gyu Dae Kim, who crossed the line in 1:38.50.



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