After a season of lifetime bests, it was nagging injury that soured Josh Cassidy’s final race week on the track in 2019. Competing at the World Para Athletics Championship in Dubai, the Canadian champion at 800, 1500 and 5000 metres in the T54 category failed to advance out of the heats in each of his events – a result he attributes to a shoulder injury that’s been bothering him since before September’s Berlin Marathon.
The multiple time Paralympian finished near the back of the field in each of his three heats in Dubai. After pushing 1:41.05 for 800m last Friday to finish ninth in his heat, Cassidy attempted to roll away from the field during Monday’s heats for the 1500m. After seeing teammate Alexandre Dupont crash out of the heat before him, he attempted get away from the field by pushing to the front as he hit the bell. “Strategically I was in a great spot, even pushing on the outside lane,” said Cassidy of the effort. “I took the gamble of taking that last lap from the front, but my max speed isn’t there.” He would end up seventh in the heat in a time of 3:10.79, well off his best set earlier this year.
In the 5000m, Cassidy was at or near the lead for the bulk of the race, leading through 1000, 2000, and 4000 metres before slipping back to seventh in the final kilometre. After splits of 2:10, 2:09, 2:20, and 2:08, the race pace ramped up in the final kilometre as Cassidy dropped down to 2:05, but still finished nearly six seconds back of Chinese winner Yang Zhong with a time of 10:54.09.
It is expected Cassidy will enjoy a short break before resuming training to begin his push towards the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. If he is to qualify, it will mark his fourth appearance at the quadrennial event.