Irish athletes performed well at the 2026 Loughborough International, with senior athletes Lana Sutton and Brandon Ballard each securing notable victories despite challenging conditions.
Competing in cold temperatures and strong winds, both athletes showed solid early season form.
T20 athlete Brandon Ballard won the Para 1500m with a controlled and measured performance. In a race with uneven pacing, he stayed composed before moving into the lead with around 800 metres to go. From there, he gradually increased his advantage and finished comfortably ahead of the field, crossing the line around 20 metres clear and recording a season’s best time.
Lana Sutton also had a successful day, winning both the Para 100m and 200m events. In the 100m, the T38 athlete made a strong start and maintained her lead to finish in 12.96 seconds, breaking the 13-second mark.
She followed this with another win in the 200m, taking the lead early and holding it through the final straight to finish in 26.70 seconds. Although the time was achieved with a slightly over-allowable tailwind (+2.2 m/s) and will not count officially, it still reflects her current progress.
Sutton is increasingly focusing on the 400m as part of her development, and these results suggest she is building well into the season. In both events, 2012 Paralympian Sally Brown finished close behind, showing encouraging form as she continues her return to competition.
Photo credit: Pat Scaasi
