SUNDERLAND’S Hazel Robson admits she got a little help in claiming 100m silver at the IPC World Athletics Championships – but insists that shouldn’t take anything away from her performance.

Robson, of the Jarrow and Hebburn club, lined up on the starting blocks for the T36 100m without being joined by double Paralympic champion Fang Wang – who pulled out after suffering from a hamstring injury.

Robson made the most of her rival’s absence, storming to second in 14.94secs – just 0.55s away from Elena Ivanova of Russia, who added 100m gold to the 200m one she won earlier in the week.

Robson started her New Zealand adventure by finishing fourth in the 200m final, before later claiming 4x100m relay bronze and after adding silver to that, she believes she can be more than proud of her achievements.

“Fang Wang pulled a hamstring and that was a boost for me,” said Robson.

“The 200m wasn’t good and I finished just outside the medals but after winning bronze in the relay my confidence went sky high.

“I told my mum and a few others that I was going to try and run with the Russian and that they should watch out for me doing that.

“I did just that, she might have been ahead of me, but I did just that and this definitely gives me a lot of confidence for the 2012 Paralympics now.

“I didn’t expect to get a personal best so to do that and win a medal is a great achievement and now I have got an individual medal at every World Championships.”

Meanwhile, there was no such medal joy for Middlesbrough’s Kenny Churchill in the F37/38 javelin final hours before Robson took silver as he finished fifth.

The 35-year-old – a former three-time Paralympic champion – recorded a best of 43.84m with his fourth attempt as China’s Zhang Xuelong took gold with 53.04m.

However, Churchill admits simply competing in a World Championships has convinced him he can medal at the London Paralympics.

“Being so close but not quite getting there is disappointing but it will motivate me for London now and I am going to work hard to make sure it doesn’t happen again,”

said Churchill.

“I have found the experience out here in New Zealand great and it is nice to be back competing for Britain in that vest again.

“I am disappointed to finish outside the medals but these things happen in the sport.

“You can be going well and then slip down because the field is so tough out there.”

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