Newmarket NH’s Liza Corso Medals at Paralympic Games

Newmarket's Liza Corso took home the silver in the women's 1,500 meter at the 16th Summer Paralympic Games in Tokyo on Saturday morning.

Corso ran a steady race and came on strong at the end with a time of 4:30:67, a personal best for the 18-year-old graduate from Portsmouth Christian Academy in Dover. She finished behind Tigist Gezahagn Menigstu from Ethiopia (4:23.24) and ahead of Tunesia's Somaya Bousaid (4:31.78).

"A very mature runner. Quite the smart way she conducted her race," NBC's commentators said about Corso's run.

Corso said that although most of her family and friends could not make the trip to Tokyo she felt their presence.

"There are so many people that have sent amazing messages and support. My high school the teachers actually watched it, my college team watched it. There are just so many people that are sending so much support and so much love. It’s really helped me so much," Corso said.

Her mom Daphne was in Tokyo and had traveled with Liza because of her age.

"We are so incredibly proud of Liza," she said.

Sen. Maggie Hassan tweeted her congratulations to Corso on Saturday.

"A big congratulations to Newmarket's Liza Corso on winning the silver medal in the women's 1,500 meter at the #TokyoParalympics — New Hampshire is proud," Hassan tweeted.

Hassan in July came to the defense of Paralympian Becca Meyers who withdrew from the games when she was denied having her own personal care assistant with her by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee because of COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, one PCA will be on call for 33 members of the Paralympic swim team.

"The Paralympic Games should set an example for the world – setting a level playing field that is only possible when athletes with disabilities receive the services and support that they need to be fully included and to compete," Hassan said in a statement.

PCA hosted a watch party early Saturday morning at the school's Troiano Hall where cheers erupted when she crossed the line. Afterwards on the school's Facebook page called her run "amazing."

"Many, many answered prayers and now prayers of thanksgiving! Liza's best time was 4:43, the slowest among her competitors going in; she was also the youngest by years, at 18. She cut over 12 seconds off her personal best time to move from 4th the 2nd place, all in the last lap, and most of it in the last 150 meters," read the school's post.

Corso was born with a genetic disorder called albinism and is considered legally blind. She runs without depth perception, having over 20/200 vision.

She will run Division I cross country for Lipscomb University in Nashville in the fall.

Corso is the second individual with a Dover connection to win Olympic silver this summer. Dover's Jessica Parratto won silver in women’s 10-meter platform synchronized diving at the Olympic games in July.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com or via Twitter @DanAlexanderNH