PARALYMPICS: ROB Womack admitted justice had been done at the IPC World Athletics Championships after winning a challenge against officials to finish seventh in the shot put final.

The Essex-based Womack left the track in the F54/55/56 shot at Christchurch’s Queen Elizabeth II Park officially finishing in eighth with a best throw of 10.66m with his second attempt.

The 39-year-old recorded a personal best of 10.93m three throws later but saw that effort scratched off after officials deemed the Aviva GB&NI ace to have lifted from his chair.

Womack was adamant he hadn’t and after consulting British officials he protested the ruling, later winning it to finish seventh in the Garden City with a points tally of 946.

It may have only seen him move one place higher but with performances potentially going towards qualifying for the London Paralympics, Womack insists it meant more than that.

“I am glad I protested it and won it because that could be the difference between me not going to the Paralympics and going,” said Womack – who benefited from an Aviva-funded preparation camp prior to arriving in Christchurch.

“I missed out on going to the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008 by the narrowest of margins so I am glad I did because this could now count towards 2012.

“I thought I could lift it a bit more after my fourth throw and I did and I am happy with my performance although I do wish I showed that little bit more.

“The Sunday before my final I did a practice throw of 11.16m and I think I have just got to concentrate more to make sure I throw like I do in training when I am competing.

“But at least I know I have got it in me, there is more to come, on a good day I can really challenge for a medal and I have only been going for five years.”

Poland’s Karol Wojciech Kozun took gold with a best throw of 11.58m – good enough for 985 points – while Serbia’s Drazenko Mitrovic won silver and Germany’s Ulrich Iser bronze.

And while pleased with his efforts in Christchurch, Womack believes having the F54, 55 and 56 classifications now competing under the same umbrella is unfair.

“For me personally it doesn’t make sense having the three classifications together because they have got to make the standards so high to get a competition,” he added.

“There were six F55 throwers in a final of 14 and that says it all. You could just have had individual events for them – it is just unfair really.

“They have done really well getting us tied in but I don’t know why they are combining it all and it proves how hard my class is to get six in the final.”

l Aviva has been supporting British athletes since 1999. To find out more about Aviva’s athletics sponsorship, go to aviva.co.uk/athletics