ATLANTA -- Tatyana McFadden, the wheelchair racer from Atholton, set an American record of 1 minute, 49.62 seconds Friday night in the 800-meter semifinal at the annual Meet in the Heat.
But that wasn't enough to beat the world's dominant female wheelchair track star, Canadian Chantal Peticlerc, who finished in 1:49.17.
In yesterday's 800 final, it was the same one-two finish.
In the 200 and 400 finals, McFadden, 18, again beat everyone but Peticlerc, 37, coming in second in the 200 by 0.05 of a second in 29.29.
McFadden's 400 time, just off her American record by 0.012 of a second, was 54.37, with Peticlerc winning in 52.89.
"I think I'm doing good," McFadden said. "I still have a lot more learning and training to do."
McFadden says finding the time to train has been difficult.
"I'm still in high school. I would have to do my homework, and then my training would come at 10 o'clock at night," she said.
The Columbia resident was on world-record pace in the 1,500 meters Friday night before a crash with a lapped racer 30 meters from the line knocked her out of the final.
"I didn't have my head up; I learned my lesson," McFadden said. "It was my first crash. It was pretty scary."
This morning, McFadden goes to Marietta, just northwest of Atlanta, for the U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Trials, which run through tomorrow.
Peticlerc won't be there, but McFadden looks to post strong times.
"It makes a difference," McFadden said. "She's very fast, but there are other talented racers who will be there."
