World record hope for paralympian after city run
Paralympic athlete Richard Whitehead faces a wait to find out if he set a new world record at the Derby Ramathon.
Whitehead, who competes in the T61 class, was delighted to cross the line in a time of one hour 14 minutes 38 seconds.
If the record is ratified by the World Para Athletics organisation, it will see Nottingham-based Whitehead regain the half marathon record, 14 years after he last set the world’s best time.
His previous record was about 21 seconds slower than Sunday’s time.
He told the BBC: “I’ve been training quite hard over the last 18 months towards my aspirational goal in the marathon.
"I’ve been looking for events that fit my training routine and obviously the race on Sunday was a chance to show what my form and fitness levels are.
“I think it’s important that athletes like myself don’t just compete in the big London and regional races, I’m passionate about the East Midlands and have lots of friends in Derby."
The T61 class is for athletes with a double leg amputation above the knee.
Whitehead said it was the first time he had taken part in the Ramathon but had "heard lots about it".
"It was very well organised and very accommodating," he said.
“As a person with a disability, hopefully I proved to those on the other side of the railings that running is for everybody, it’s about taking that first positive step.
“If you look at where running is as a sport, it’s more mainstream now and not just for people that are fanatical about it and the Ramathon has embraced that.”
A spokesman for the International Paralympic Committee said: “World records are subject to ratification by World Para Athletics.
“This process may vary due to a series of factors, including the proximity with major events such as the Paralympic Games.”
The ninth annual Ramathon event attracted 1,690 entrants ranging from elite athletes like Whitehead to casual runners taking on a shorter 8k route.
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