Weir Archer athletes delivered an impressive start to the Swiss para‑athletics circuit as the opening competitions got underway in Arbon. Club Captain Hilmy Shawwal T54, Ellis Kottas T54, and Natasha Settelen T34 each delivered standout performances across multiple distances, securing a series of Personal Bests (PB) and Season Bests (SB).
Racing on 14 May at the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial, Shawwal, competing for Team Tanzania, produced a fantastic result with an 18‑second PB in the 1500 metres. He also recorded SB times in both the 100‑metre and 400‑metre events, confirming a strong early season form.
Kottas enjoyed a successful meet of her own, registering a 16‑second PB in the 1500 metres and an 11‑second PB in the 800 metres. Settelen, a consistent performer on the Swiss tracks, added to the club’s achievements with SB’s in the 200‑metre and 400‑metre races.
Following the Arbon events, Kottas and Settelen continued their racing campaign by travelling to ParaAthletics 2026 in Nottwil, aiming to build on their early momentum.
The results for the Arbon competition are as follows:
|
Hilmy Shawwal T54 |
Ellis Kottas T54 |
Natasha Settelen T34 |
|
|
100m |
16.67 SB |
19.91 SB |
/ |
|
200m |
/ |
/ |
45.68 SB |
|
400m |
59.15 SB |
/ |
87.39 SB |
|
800m |
/ |
2:00.95 PB |
/ |
|
1500m |
3:52.03 PB |
3:47.81 PB |
/ |
Above: Ellis Kottas. Image via @ellisonaroll on Instagram
Above: Natasha Settelen. Image via @natashasettlen on Instagram
The Weltklasse am See competition, commenced in Nottwil, and saw Yasmine Hodkinson, Toby Metzgen and Ellis Kottas racing for Team England alongside Natasha Settlen. The group participated in multiple races and distances, with each athlete achieving PB and SB times.
The results for the Nottwil competition are as follows:
|
Toby Metzgen T34 |
Yasmine Hodkinson T54 |
Ellis Kottas T54 |
Natasha Settlen T34 |
|
|
100m |
18.09 PB |
20.06 PB |
/ |
24.62 SB |
|
200m |
/ |
/ |
/ |
44.14 SB |
|
400m |
62.87 PB |
72.88 PB |
63.11 PB |
85.17 SB |
|
800m |
2:03.43 PB |
2:24.25 PB |
2:06.03 PB |
2:58.62 |
|
1500m |
/ |
4:40.79 PB |
3:44.68 PB |
/ |
The Weir Archer Academy are immensely proud of all the athletes after a series of excellent performances across the two competitions in Switzerland where temperatures climbed to an intense 29°C. Despite the demanding conditions, they delivered brilliant results and demonstrated remarkable resilience throughout the competition schedule.
For Hodkinson and Metzgen, the event marked their first appearance representing England, a milestone made even more notable for Hodkinson, who is balancing elite sport with her ongoing A‑level studies. Both athletes rose to the occasion, showcasing composure and competitive maturity on the international stage.
Meanwhile, Kottas and Settelen faced a tough challenge: back‑to‑back competitions at both Arbon and Nottwil.
With strong performances, personal and season bests, and valuable international experience gained, the athletes are set to return to the club with momentum and confidence.