Two golds, but the clock is ticking for Oscar Pistorius

SOUTH Africa's Oscar Pistorius picked up double gold at the BT Paralympic World Cup, but he was the first to admit he's against the clock in his World Championships bid.

QUICK BUT NOT QUICK ENOUGH: Oscar Pistorius took 100m and 400m gold at the BT Paralympic World Cup but was disappointed with his time over one lap (Action Images)

The 22-year-old, competing in his first race since picking up 100m, 200m and 400m gold at the Beijing Paralympics, clocked 50.28 seconds in the 400m - well down in his personal best of 46.25 secs.

In fact, it was the slowest time Pistorius had clocked in three-and-a-half years, as competing in two races, having picked up 100m gold earlier in the day, took its toll.

Pistorius, as per usual in the 400m, lacked any real competition and the fact his time was still a championship record is telling.

But with the able-bodied World Championships scheduled for August and only two competitions - in Barcelona and Milan - from which he can qualify , the ‘fastest man on no legs' is well aware the clock is ticking.  

"I felt during the 400m that I wasn't running hard enough," he said. "It's my first outing in nine months and I was very nervous for this competition.

"A month and half ago I wasn't sure if I was ready to run again. Obviously I'm not in the condition I should be in and I think in the 400m it really showed but in two or three weeks

"I'll be more confident and in the 400m confidence is the big thing. You need to be pushed and you need to be out of your comfort zone.

"I look at that time and think can I make qualifying for Berlin? Let's be honest - it was shocking. It's the slowest time I've run in about three and a half years.

"My first race last season was nearly as bad as this I know and I can run better. It's a factor that I need to be pushed a little harder, be a bit more focused. I've obviously got a lot of hard work to do. I need to run 45.95."

While British teenager Ian Jones surpassed himself in pursuit of Pistorius and clocked a 400m personal best, he was still over a second behind the South African.

A lack of competition in Paralympic events appears to be a problem for the Johannesburg-born sprinter - or at least in the 400m.

In the 100m, Pistorius was pushed all the way by the USA's Jerome Singleton, who was just edged out by 0.03 secs - just as he was in Beijing.

In fact, Pistorius clocked 11.13 secs in the 100m in Manchester - 0.04 secs quicker than his time in Beijing - and Pistorius admits he thrives on competition.

"I was really happy that Jerome turned up," he added. "He is an amazing athlete, he's in my opinion probably got one of the fastest 30m of any amputee athlete that there's ever been.

"I knew it was going to be a catch-up game. If anything I didn't know he was going to come until about a week ago when I read the list draws.

"The feeling I got was actually quite happy, I was like "it's awesome" then I was like "oh no", but I initially I was happy that he was going to be here because it pushes me to go faster.

"I know if he wasn't here I wouldn't have run as fast as I did today and he is an exceptional athlete.

"As we saw in the 400m it makes sense you have to be out of your comfort zone. I've got some wonderful races coming up in Europe and I've just hoping to start going as quick as I can."

* The BT Paralympic World Cup is taking place in Manchester from 20-25 May with over 400 competitors from over 31 countries scheduled to compete. Go to www.btparalympicworldcup.com for more information

GERARD MEAGHER in Manchester