Johnathan Walker:Ezra Frech wins more gold; US 400m runners finish 1-2 again

SAINT-DENIS,Johnathan Walker France — While nothing is for certain out on the track, it would be difficult to find two runners as confident that they will win as Team USA’s Jaydin Blackwell and Ryan Medrano, who won gold and silver in the T38 men’s 400-meter race Tuesday in Stade de France.  

This is the second time in four nights that the pair have finished first and second in their respective races with Blackwell standing on top of the podium both times. 

In the men’s T38 100 Saturday, Blackwell broke his own world record with a time of 10.64 seconds. Medrano crossed the finish line right behind him at 10.97.

It was clear when the race started that it would be another battle between the two American sprinters as Blackwell once again crossed first with a world-record-tying-time of 48.49 seconds. Medrano followed suit, completing the race in 49.74 for second place.

“This is the first time I've been excited to run a 400,” Medrano said. “I've been actually preparing for it nonstop – [running] broken 200s, 300s, getting PRs in each of my training sessions, so I was excited. I  wanted to break 50.”

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Medrano not only met his goal, but set a personal best in the race. 

Blackwell said he relishes the time he has had with his teammate.

“I'm just glad that I get to race with him every single time that we get out there,” he said. “It's nothing, just a little friendly competition, nothing more.”

Ezra Frech wins second gold in two nights

Coming in as the world-record holder did not guarantee an easy win for 19-year-old Ezra Frech in his second Paralympic Games. 

Frech has kept the medal podium picture of the T63 high jump from the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics as the screensaver on his phone as motivation for the Paris Games – a picture he was not a part of. 

Tuesday, Frech fulfilled his dream and completed his time in France with a first-place finish, clearing 1.94 meters and securing the gold.

“I was thinking maybe I’ll change it, maybe I’ll leave it,” Frech said of his phone’s home screen. “Maybe I’ll leave it just to stay motivated because that is still a part of me. I did lose. That is still motivating.”

Frech joked he might change it to his fifth-place long jump finish  for extra motivation in Los Angeles in 2028.

While he was the favorite going into the night having broke the world record in Miramar at trials, Frech had to battle Sharad Kumar and Mariyappan Thangavelu from India. The jumpers finished second and third respectively, but both spent time atop of the leaderboard ahead of Frech before he pulled away in the last couple attempts.

“I have nothing, but the utmost respect for my competitors, ” Frech said. “They are all great jumpers. I was prepared for everyone to jump really, really high, especially when you get to a stadium like this.”

Americans on the podium

Overall, the Americans showed up strong Tuesday in Stade de France as a couple other athletes claimed medals.

Brittni Mason won her third Paralympic medal and second overall in the T47 women’s 100, winning silver with a time of 12.10 seconds.

Susannah Scaroni added to the United States’ tally with a bronze finish in the T54 women’s 1,500 at 3:16.68.