Jessica Lewis continued her quest to qualify for a fourth Paralympic Games with a strong showing at the Cruisers Classic and Para Athletics Clinic in Canada.

The 29-year-old wheelchair racer was at her dominant best at the Toronto Track and Field Centre, picking up victories in the 100, 200 and 400 metres.

By her own admittance those performances came at a low-level meet, but Lewis relished the opportunity to race ahead of a hectic schedule of events starting with the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Switzerland at the end of the month before the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris in July and the Parapan Am Games in Santiago, Chile, in November.

“It was definitely a smaller meet, but as with any proper competition it was great preparation for major events coming up,” said Lewis.

“The times were a bit slower than I perhaps would have hoped but when I take into consideration things like the bad weather conditions, it was more of an opportunity of preparing under gun conditions and working on my starts.

“It’s always important to be able to learn from races and see what could be done better the next time. In the 400 metres I had a great first 300 metres but the last 100 felt really tough. The positive thing is that I can look back and learn from that.”

Ahead of competing in Switzerland, Lewis, who has switched to a new custom-made racing chair and altered her seating position in an attempt to increase power, is confident she will reach peak form in time for the World Championships, in which a top-four finish would guarantee a spot at the Paralympic Games, also in Paris, next summer.

“I feel really happy with how my preparations and form have been looking ahead of Switzerland,” added Lewis, who will be racing in two local races in the build up to the Grand Prix meet.

“This will be my last major series of races before the World Championships, so they are pretty important.

“I think most of the people I competed against at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix in Dubai [in March] will be there again and so it will be another great opportunity to see where I’m at.

“I definitely feel as if I’ve made progress with the new racing chair. I’m getting more used to the new seat position and definitely seeing improvements in my performance.”