Para athlete Jaryd Clifford runs 3:42.97

coahc wrote:

Great result by Jaryd who is partially blind running a new world record of 3:42.97 for 1500m at the Zatopek meet in Melbourne. Well done!

He will be the first blind athlete to run under 4 minutes for the mile by the end of March. He's an absolutely fantastic person and a great advertisement for athletics in Australia.

I have a friend who competes blind in the 1500 and has medaled at several POGs. The question that pops into my head is where the hell do they find a guide who can train and race with him? Super impressive!

holy carp! wrote:

I have a friend who competes blind in the 1500 and has medaled at several POGs. The question that pops into my head is where the hell do they find a guide who can train and race with him? Super impressive!

He has enough vision to train and race on his own in certain circumstances especially on the track. In his division he is partially sighted not totally blind. Still, what he faces is very challenging and full credit to him.

Jaryd competes in the T12/13 division - “some residual sight” - an interesting story last year before the world para championships, his vision goggles were stolen en route in Europe and so he still raced without those aids and still did very well.

Super athlète and great person.

coahc wrote:

Great result by Jaryd who is partially blind running a new world record of 3:42.97 for 1500m at the Zatopek meet in Melbourne. Well done!

Reminds me: whatever happened to that Mikey kid? Didn’t he run 3:55 some years back? Seems like he just disappeared.

holy carp! wrote:

I have a friend who competes blind in the 1500 and has medaled at several POGs. The question that pops into my head is where the hell do they find a guide who can train and race with him? Super impressive!

If he’s your friend, you should ask him and report back

Looks like he peaked around age 20 and then dropped off much like many other runners who train hard in high school.

holy carp! wrote:

I have a friend who competes blind in the 1500 and has medaled at several POGs. The question that pops into my head is where the hell do they find a guide who can train and race with him? Super impressive!

3,000 and below, he doesn't need a guide. He does with the 5k and 10k on both track and road.

That's a legit run! Not a Madison Cawthorn type of performance.

where is wrote:

coahc wrote:

Great result by Jaryd who is partially blind running a new world record of 3:42.97 for 1500m at the Zatopek meet in Melbourne. Well done!

Reminds me: whatever happened to that Mikey kid? Didn’t he run 3:55 some years back? Seems like he just disappeared.

Mikey was an autistic runner and that’s a different category. Not sure if he still runs.