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Louzanne into T11 1500m final in Paris─── MORGAN PIEK 10:44 Sun, 01 Sep 2024
“If God wishes I hope we will have a good final. It felt good and strong today. As you could see the competition is tough, but here are feel good and ready. It's all systems go for the final.”
The T11 runner from Bloemfontein, Louzanne Coetzee, is into the final of the 1500m for women at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, France.
On Sunday morning, the 31-year-old Coetzee finished second in her heat along with her guide, Estean Badenhorst, but it was enough to advance. The winners of the three heats automatically qualified, while the three fastest runners across all heats also earned their spot in the final.
Louzanne Coetzee is into the final of the 1500m for women at the 2024 Paralympic Games. Picture: Andries Coetzee
Shanshan He and her guide, Junjie You, of China won the third heat in 4:44.66 to automatically advance, while Coetzee ran a season’s best time of 4:45.25.
Coetzee and Badenhorst started fairly slow, but quickly made up ground and took the lead. In the final 200m the Chinese, He and You, took the lead and held on for the win. These were also the two fastest times going into the final, and the South African looks good for another medal in the event.
Coetzee told OFM Sport they felt strong in the heats and now it’s onto the final. “I’m very excited for the final – the competition is strong, but are ready,” said Coetzee.
“God willing, I hope we’ll have a good final. It felt good and strong today. As you could see the competition is tough, but here are feel good and ready. It’s all systems go for the final.”
During the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan, Coetzee won the silver medal in the event. In 2023 she also won the silver medal in the Para World Championships which was also staged in Paris. The Women’s T11 1500m final will take place on Monday morning at 10:11.
