Shropshire Paralympian Mickey Bushell smashes records

Shropshire Paralympian Mickey Bushell has received a major pre-London 2012 boost – by smashing his own 100m world record.

The 22-year-old from Telford lowered his own mark from 14.47 seconds to 14.38 in the T53 class at the US Trials in Indianapolis.

That formed part of a memorable performance from Bushell, who also set British and European records in the 200m and 400m and a British best in the 800m.

And that has given a timely reminder to the Team GB selectors ahead of the Paralympic athletics squad announcement on Tuesday.

“Mickey’s in good form,” said his father Peter. “It’s an exciting time but also a very nervous time and it’s just a case of seeing what the selectors decide now.”

Bushell, who notched a 100m silver medal at the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 , also claimed success in the 200m in America in 25:97.

He was fourth in the 400m in a time of 51:32, while he clocked 1min 42:43 in the 800m to finish third.

Meanwhile, Shropshire Olympic hope Nick Woodbridge is continuing the countdown to his modern pentathlon challenge.

Woodbridge, from New Works in Telford, is attending a two-and-a-half week training camp in Font Romeu as he gears up for his second Olympic appearance.

“There will be a lot of nerves and excitement, but we have to be able to control the two,” he said.