Georgia Bulldog Jarryd Wallace Races in London Paralympic 100 Meters as One of the World’s Elite Eight
As one of the world’s fastest paralympic sprinters in the world, Georgia Bulldog Jarryd Wallace continues his comeback from amputation due to compartment syndrome in London.
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There are heroes and there are sports heroes.
Then there is Jarryd Wallace.
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Wallace is in London to run 100 meters as fast as he can at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. He will run as he continues the ultimate sports comeback.
Wallace comeback began when his plan to run track for the University of Georgia was halted in 2010 as compartment syndrome resulted in the amputation of his right leg below the knee.
Wallace came up with a new plan. On the same track where Wallace competed in the 2012 Paralympics, he will be racing with the best of the best in the 100 meters at the International Paralympic Committee Athletics Grand Prix Final.
“It’s probably one of the most exciting races of the year because it’s the top eight guys in the world,” said Wallace to John Frierson of Georgiadogs.com. “The top eight guys seldom get together unless it’s the finals of a World Championship event, and even then there are times when not everybody makes it. This is going to be really special.”
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As part Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games, Wallace and the other seven top 100-meter sprinters in the T44 disability classification will race one time, no qualifying heats, to name the champion.
“It’s going to be a really, really fast race, on a really, really fast track,” Wallace said to Frierson. “As one of the top-ranked competitors, it’s fun to go to races and win them; it’s even more fun to do it when the best guys are there. I know all of us are excited for the opportunity this early in the season and I think everybody is expecting a really, really fast time.”
Of the eight racers, four have broken the 11-second barrier this year. Wallace, now ranked second in the world, posted a 10.92 time in May. It is the second fastest time in the world this year.
“Those four guys all have a shot to win it; all eight guys do, really,” said Wallace, who set the world record (22.08) in the 200 at the IPC World Championships in 2013. “It’s just who executes the best that day.”
Wallace will take advantage of the visit.
“There’s a preacher that goes around during the track events and we host a Bible study,” he said. “I haven’t seen him yet this year, so I’m excited about doing that. It’s really cool to have a Bible study with people from a lot of different countries, with different beliefs and thoughts. That’s something I’m really looking forward to.”
There’s also a family that I’ve gotten to know from racing in England a lot and they’re going to be there, as well. There’s a lot of things that I’m looking forward to outside of the race that helps me to stay focused, stay grounded and treat it just like another day. And then I’ll go get focused up on that one day and execute my race plan.”
And while this race is big, the biggest race of the year is in October, at the IPC World Championships in Doha, Qatar. There Wallace will try to repeat as champion in the 200 and win the 100.