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Paris 2024: Shauna Bocquet denied spot in T54 1500m final

Shauna Bocquet returns to the Stade de France on Wednesday for the T54 100m
Shauna Bocquet returns to the Stade de France on Wednesday for the T54 100m

Ireland's Shauna Bocquet narrowly missed out on securing a second berth in a final at her debut Paralympic Games when finishing in sixth place in her heat of the T54 1500m at the Stade de France.

Bocquet, who recorded an eighth-place finish in the T54 5000m on Saturday, needed a top-five result to progress to the medal race over the shorter distance.

The Galway competitor briefly became outpaced when the sprint for home developed on the final lap and was forced wider than ideal in the home straight in search of racing room as she sought to reel in her rivals.

Despite staying on well in the dash to the line, Bocquet crossed the line in sixth in 3:35.26, just missing out on qualification for the final.

Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner, who has already bagged two golds at Paris 2024, won Bocquet's heat in 3:34.74.

Susannah Scaroni of the United States clocked a new Paralympic record of 3:19.84 in the first of the two heats.

Speaking to RTÉ Sport after her race, Bocquet said: "It was very tactical, it was very close in the end.

"It was a bit disappointing to not make the final but I've another event to go here in Paris so all my focus has to go on that now."

The 20-year-old faces a dramatic drop in distance when she returns for the T54 100m.

"I've a day off tomorrow and then my full focus will be on the 100 on Wednesday," she added.

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