DOHA, Qatar (Oct. 23, 2015) – Louisiana Tech sprinter Jaquvis Hart shattered a championship record and won gold in the 400m (T47) finals at the IPC World Championships Friday at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.
Hart, nicknamed JQ – ran an IPC Championship record time of 48.17 to claim the gold medal Friday, beating Jamaica’s Shane Hudson by over a half-second and setting a new championship record by almost a full second.
His time of 48.17 surpassed a world record mark that was set more than 13 years ago when Brazil’s Antonio Souza ran 49.04 on July 25, 2002 in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France.
Silver medalist Hudson (48.89), along with bronze medalist Alexey Kotlov (48.92) from Russia, each ran personal best times but were unable to catch Hart. Cuba’s Ernesto Blanco finished fourth with a time of 49.14.
Kotlov entered the week with the second-best personal best time of 48.94 in the event while Austria’s Gunther Matzinger had the top time of 48.45. Matzinger finished fifth with a time of 49.54 in Friday’s finals race.
In Paralympic competition, Hart had never run faster than 49.40 before Friday.
The winner of the Courage Award at the TECHSPY’s in May, Hart entered the week’s competition with a personal best time of 47.76 in the open 400m in regular competition, which he set at the Conference USA Championships in 2014 in Houston.
Hart was born without the lower half of his left arm but still competes for Louisiana Tech’s track and field team, refusing to allow his disability to slow him down. He often claims he does not have a disability, preferring to compete on the same track as anyone else.
A product of Bossier City's Airline High School, Hart lettered in football, wrestling and track and received all-state honors in both track and wrestling. He was a state champion in track and a two-time city champion in wrestling.
The IPC Athletics World Championships is a biennial event (formerly held every four years) organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Athletes with a physical disability compete, and in a few events athletes with an intellectual disability compete. The first UPC Athletics World Championships was held in Berlin, Germany in 1994. This year’s championships marks the seventh championship competition with the 2013 event held in Lyon, France and the 2017 event scheduled for London.
Hart is the first Louisiana Tech student-athlete to represent Team USA since Chelsea Hayes competed in the long jump at the XXX Olympiad in London.
IPC World Championships – 400m (T47) Finals
1. Jaquvis Hart (USA) 48.17 Championship Record
2. Shane Hudson (JAM) 48.89
3. Alexey Kotlov (RUS) 48.92
4. Ernesto Blanco (CUB) 49.14
5. Gunther Matzinger (AUT) 49.54
6. Hermas Muvunyi (RWA) 49.79
7. Adonis Aresti (CYP) 50.55
8. Elias Ndimulunde (NAM) 51.16
His time of 48.17 surpassed a world record mark that was set more than 13 years ago when Brazil’s Antonio Souza ran 49.04 on July 25, 2002 in Villeneuve d’Ascq, France.
Silver medalist Hudson (48.89), along with bronze medalist Alexey Kotlov (48.92) from Russia, each ran personal best times but were unable to catch Hart. Cuba’s Ernesto Blanco finished fourth with a time of 49.14.
Kotlov entered the week with the second-best personal best time of 48.94 in the event while Austria’s Gunther Matzinger had the top time of 48.45. Matzinger finished fifth with a time of 49.54 in Friday’s finals race.
In Paralympic competition, Hart had never run faster than 49.40 before Friday.
The winner of the Courage Award at the TECHSPY’s in May, Hart entered the week’s competition with a personal best time of 47.76 in the open 400m in regular competition, which he set at the Conference USA Championships in 2014 in Houston.
Hart was born without the lower half of his left arm but still competes for Louisiana Tech’s track and field team, refusing to allow his disability to slow him down. He often claims he does not have a disability, preferring to compete on the same track as anyone else.
A product of Bossier City's Airline High School, Hart lettered in football, wrestling and track and received all-state honors in both track and wrestling. He was a state champion in track and a two-time city champion in wrestling.
The IPC Athletics World Championships is a biennial event (formerly held every four years) organized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Athletes with a physical disability compete, and in a few events athletes with an intellectual disability compete. The first UPC Athletics World Championships was held in Berlin, Germany in 1994. This year’s championships marks the seventh championship competition with the 2013 event held in Lyon, France and the 2017 event scheduled for London.
Hart is the first Louisiana Tech student-athlete to represent Team USA since Chelsea Hayes competed in the long jump at the XXX Olympiad in London.
IPC World Championships – 400m (T47) Finals
1. Jaquvis Hart (USA) 48.17 Championship Record
2. Shane Hudson (JAM) 48.89
3. Alexey Kotlov (RUS) 48.92
4. Ernesto Blanco (CUB) 49.14
5. Gunther Matzinger (AUT) 49.54
6. Hermas Muvunyi (RWA) 49.79
7. Adonis Aresti (CYP) 50.55
8. Elias Ndimulunde (NAM) 51.16
