CHICAGO was Sammi Kinghorn’s kind of town as she powered to a fifth place finish in her first ever wheelchair marathon.
Sammi completed the 26.2 mile course in 1hr 43min 52sec – well inside the qualification time for the Commonwealth Games in Australia next year.
Overall, around 40,000 competitors took part in yesterday’s event, which saw them pass through 29 neighbourhoods of the Windy City.
Delighted Sammi later said via Twitter: “I’ve completed my first marathon in a time I didn’t expect was possible!”
The 21-year-old – sponsored by Mattioli Woods since the early days of her racing career - was a double gold medal winner at this year’s world para athletics championships in London.
She triumphed in the 100m and 200m sprints, but the Chicago Marathon was eight miles further than she had ever previously competed.
Coach Ian Mirfin described it on social media as “a hugely deserved time and achievement”.
Ian and Sammi – who yesterday beat the previous Scottish women’s record by a full 20 minutes – will visit Mattioli Woods in Leicester on October 20.
