by Perri Williams
Aaron Shorten is a familiar name to those who have run at juvenile level with Athletics Ireland. The Castledermot (Kildare) native has been a member of St Laurence O’Toole Athletic Club since he first started his athletics career. Today he finished 7th in the T20 1,500m final at the Paralympics in Paris with a season’s best of 4.02.71.
“I am over the moon” said Shorten in the aftermath of his race “I got to get here. It’s my first ever paralympic games. It’s a dream come true”. There was, however, a sense of disappointment about the race itself. “I was hoping the time would be a bit better. 3.55 is what I was hoping for” he indicated. “I haven’t broken four minutes since last year. I was hoping for a bit more. However in light of his tender age of 21 he was optimistic. “I suppose plenty more races and plenty more to come … LA 2028 is the real goal”.
Michael Brannigan took the race out fast “like a bullet” remarked Shorten. Brannigan (USA) was the pre-race favourite. The American holds the world record at 3.45.50 and the Paralympic record at 3.51.73 from his win in Rio in 2016. While Shorten tried to stick to his plan to stay with Brannigan, the pace was just too fast. It was even too fast for Brannigan himself. Despite running 3.49.91 he could only manage third place. It was the British athlete Ben Sandilands who took advantage of the blistering pace set by the American. Sandilands was third at the bell and ran a superb final lap to move four seconds clear of Brannigan and Italy's Ndiaga Dieng to win convincingly in a new World and Paralympic record of 3.45.40. Sandro Baessa (Portugal) passed both Ndiaga and Brannigan to take silver in a new personal best of 3.49.46. Brannigan held on for the bronze.
Shorten who took part in 800m and 1500m as he moved through the Athletics Ireland juvenile system has won over ten national titles. He made his Para debut in 2023 when he finished fifth in the World Para Championships in Paris. Earlier this year he changed coaches and is now under the tutelage of Feidhlim Kelly of Dublin Track Club.
The St Laurence O’Toole athlete has a best of 1.53.37 which he recorded at the Belfast Irish Milers meet in 2022. His 1500m best is 3.57.77 also from 2022. In 2016 Shorten won his first Irish Track and Field title – the boys u14 800m. Recording a time of 2.14.71 he beat current greats such as Mark Hanrahan (Ennis Track) who was 4th on that occasion. He repeated his winning ways in 2017, 2018 and 2019. With his times moving to 2.06, 1.57.39 and 1.54.17 respectively. On all occasions it was Willowfield’s Dylan McBride that finished as the runner-up. Throughout the same years he was also the equivalent age group indoor champion. Covid intervened in 2020 with Shorten not able to defend his title u18 that year. Throughout his juvenile career his typical running tactic was to go out as hard as he could until he crossed the line. It was a technique that worked well as a juvenile but one that would need a little bit of work as he moved into junior and senior levels. He has a very supportive club and family with his dad and brother (who threw the shot putt) by his side, at every race. His running peers were also supportive of Aaron with many of them ensuring he knew what to do, especially when he was drawn on outside lanes. Over the years I have witnessed the kindness of athletes to those that went on to become para greats.
Post covid the rapid Shorten moved up to the 1500m. Working hard each year to learn how to cope with his new distance. It took time and improved with each race. Now running with the Dublin Track Club, he will enter a new phase of his career. One that will hopefully see more international races and an improvement in his times to the sub 3.55 realm.