Last updated at 12:14, Saturday, 26 May 2012

Wheelchair racer Simon Lawson hopes to tie up a place in the Paralympics next week by setting a new personal best for the marathon in Switzerland.

Simon Lawson

The Maryport ace planned to already have secured a place in the Games this summer but had to miss his chance of posting a fast time in the London Marathon after falling ill ahead of the race.

And instead he watched on TV as British No 1 David Weir, the only man ahead of him in the domestic rankings, bagged his place in the Great Britain team.

You need a time of 1 hour 40 to be eligible for selection and I have done that, Lawson said. If I go 1 hour 35 or quicker I should be okay.

I did 1 hour 36 last year, and if conditions are all right I should be okay on the day.

Switzerland is pretty hilly, but it should be fairly flat as the race is around a lake.

If weather conditions are really bad and everyone has a slow time, they will take in to consideration your position in the race. I think I should be all right for a good time.

The 29-year-old, paralysed 11 years ago when he came off his moto-cross bike during a practice session, had his first wheelchair race in September 2009 and has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the sport. I just did it to keep fit and active at first, he said.

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Paralympic hope Simon eyeing a Swiss success