GRAEME Ballard put down another marker ahead of the Paralympic Games after beating one of his main rivals for a gold medal at the Disability Athletics Grand Prix series in Knowlsley.
The Chorley disabled star, 32, beat Hong Kong’s So Wa Wai to win the T36 100m in an impressive time of 12.06secs.
It follows his record-breaking achievement over the same distance in the Paralympic World Cup in Manchester last week.
Ballard, who has been in superb form all year, became the first cerebral palsy athlete to tuck under 12 seconds in the T36 class – beating the previous best time set by Wa Wai.
The Hong Kong athlete didn’t compete in Manchester last week, so victory for Ballard over one of his biggest rivals was a firm indication as to what could happen at London 2012.
Wa Wai clocked 12.16secs in Knowsley with Ben Rushgrove third in a time of 12.54secs.
Wa Wai won bronze in Beijing and gold in the 200m, which Ballard also runs in.
And Ballard had to settle for second place in the 200m with a time of 25.04secs as Wa Wai, gained his revenge, winning in a time of 24.73.
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