PARALYMPICS LONDON 2012: Woods aims to end disappointing Games on a high in Sunday's marathon

By Sportsbeat staff, London 2012

SHELLY Woods is looking to end a disappointing Paralympics on a high in Sunday's marathon.

TARGET: Great Britain's Shelly Woods is looking to the marathon after failing to medal in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m on the track

Woods was tipped as one of Britain's best medal hopes at the Games but finished her third event, the 1500m, in a distant sixth despite holding the current world record.

The 26-year old also finished eighth over 5000m and failed to make the 800m final but insisted she was confident ahead of her final challenge, especially after winning the London Marathon for the first time earlier this year.

"I'm really looking forward to getting out there on the road, as much as it has been nice to race at the stadium," she said.

"It going to be very competitive, all these girls have speed and form and I can only give it my best shot.

"It's been a disappointing Games for me so far. It's not been easy. Racing here has been pretty overwhelming but I know I'm as a good as all these girls. 

"I'd love to get on that podium, it would mean the world to me. I've given my all in everything so far but the standards here are higher than ever before.

"I believe it can be done and I just want to enjoy it, get my racing head on and go for it.

"It's a totally different course to the London Marathon apart from the finish. It's quite a technical course so it will be tough. The weather forecast is for it to be very hot but I don't mind the heat, so that will be no excuse."

Meanwhile, Woods's training partner Mickey Bushell revealed his London 2012 medal bid had been hit by illness but refused to use it as an excuse for missing out on the T53 200m podium.

Bushell looked a shadow of the man who claimed gold over half the distance when he squeezed into the final as a fastest loser.

A vastly improved showing followed in the medal showdown but the British wheelchair racer faded badly on the home straight to see his medal hopes slip away.

The 22-year-old eventually crossed the line in fourth, stopping the clock on 26.32 seconds but had already seen the bronze medal snatched from his grasp by Yufei Zhao of China, who finished 0.32 seconds ahead.

“I just didn’t have the top end that the other guys had and that is something for me to work on but it is still a good day even if it was a tough race,” he said.

“I felt a bit sick this morning and I felt a bit weak but after the heats I came back and I rested and I got a lot stronger in time for the final in the afternoon.

“I didn’t feel fully fit but I felt a lot better than I did in the morning so it wasn’t a problem.” 

© Sportsbeat 2012