Sprinter Sophie Hahn equalled her own world record as she surged into the final of the T38 100 metres on day four of the Tokyo Paralympics.
Reigning champion Hahn had seen the Paralympic record she set at Rio 2016 beaten by Colombia's Darian Faisury Jimenez Sanchez in a time of 12.54 seconds in the opening heat.
The 24-year-old from Nottingham swiftly responded in her own qualifying race, laying down a marker by matching her 12.38secs global best from the 2019 World Championships in Dubai.
🔥@SophieHahnT38 IS UNSTOPPABLE 🔥 The defending Paralympic champion equals her own WORLD RECORD of 12.38 in the T38 100m heats to cruise into the final 🙌 📺Coverage: @C4Paralympics📊Timetable and results: https://t.co/P7NbtOCpzW#Tokyo2020 | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/q5DYD7ZTey — British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 28, 2021
She will defend her title in the final of the event later on Saturday, where she will be joined by GB team-mates Olivia Breen and Ali Smith, who also progressed.
"I am so pleased to have run an equal PB and world record," said Hahn, who has cerebral palsy.
"It is such a fast track, so I am really happy with my performance. I am looking forward to racing in the final later this evening."
Fellow sprinter Thomas Young will also be returning to the Olympic Stadium later in the day.
The European Champion is into the T38 100m final 👏@thomasyoungt38 lines up for the final at 11:35am (BST) ⏰ Can he win a medal in his #Paralympics debut? ⚡️#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/yYYEXccKZ2 — British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 28, 2021
The 21-year-old Games debutant was second fastest in qualifying for the T38 men's 100m final, winning his heat in 11.22secs.
Two-time silver medallist Stef Reid was unable to repeat her achievements from London and Rio.
The New Zealand-born athlete, who lost her right foot in a boating accident aged 16, finished fourth in the T64 women's long jump after a season's best 5.75m as Fleur Jong of Holland won gold with a world-record leap of 6.16m.
"Coming fourth is kind of bittersweet. But I'm so proud of turning my season around. It was a massive season best for me," said Reid.
.@RunJumpStefReid jumps 5.75m to finish 4th in the T64 long jump final! It's a Season's Best and the second-longest jump of her career 👏 📺Coverage: @C4Paralympics📊Timetable and results: https://t.co/P7NbtOCpzW 📸 @ParalympicsGB #Tokyo2020 | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/P96799Lb3q — British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 28, 2021
"It's been a long time since I've been at a meet of this calibre. Two women over six metres is huge. It is exciting watching all these young athletes coming up. The standard keeps rising."
Earlier, David Devine finished just outside the podium places in the men's T13 5000m final.
The visually impaired runner from Liverpool was fourth in a season's best 14mins 38secs, just over half a second off claiming the third Paralympic bronze of his career.
"The plan was always to hit the front with two laps to go but with 300m to go, I just didn't have enough in my legs. It was so hot out there – which is the same for everyone," he said.
4th place and a new Season's Best of 14:38.00 for @devine800_1500m in the T13 5000m final 👊 Great effort from the @LivHarriersAC Paralympian👏 📺Coverage: @C4Paralympics📊Timetable and results: https://t.co/P7NbtOCpzW#Tokyo2020 | #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/0CO3thi3JI — British Athletics (@BritAthletics) August 28, 2021
"Since (London) 2012 where I got two bronzes, I've missed every world championships because of injury, I missed Rio because I was sick.
"In the last nine years I have done two European championships. No offence but that is a level down, so I'm really proud of myself to get back to this level and be challenging for medals."
Elsewhere, Luke Nuttall – son of Olympians John Nuttall and Alison Wyeth – was ninth in the men's T46 1500m final.
The 19-year-old said: "On reflection, the experience will be really good and will be valuable with Paris only three years away."
