WORCESTERSHIRE sprinter Katrina Hart admits her BT Paralympic World Cup was bittersweet after claiming gold and silver — but she believes London 2012 will be all sugar and spice.

The 21-year-old romped to 100-metre gold in Manchester in 14.43 seconds but then lost out to arch rival Elena Ivanova over 200m, clocking 30.20 to finish just 0.05 seconds behind the Russian.

There’s no doubting that Hart’s strengths lie in the 100m and she claimed gold in the shorter event at January’s IPC World Championships in New Zealand before settling for bronze over 200m.

But the Stock Green athlete refused to be too downhearted after her exploits in Manchester — especially given the small margin of defeat.

“Definitely I’m a bit disappointed with my 200m but on reflection I don’t think it was a bad run, I just think I left it a little bit too late to stride for the line,” said Hart.

“I would have liked two golds and I’ve got one but not the other.

“But I feel it’s a good performance and there was a fraction of a second in it in the 200m. I’d win that on another day and it’s just a 50/50 so I’m pretty happy.”

Hart, who claimed gold over 100m at last October’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi, believes she has what it takes to reach the top of the podium twice at next year’s Paralympics and believes the early-season signs are good.

“I’ve only run once since the World Championships before the Paralympic World Cup and that was last weekend so I know I can improve on my performances,” Hart added.

“I’ve just got to keep getting the races in, especially with 2012 just round the corner. It’s really exciting to have London coming up.

“I want to do the 100m and 200m there and hopefully get gold in both.”

Meanwhile, Kidderminster swimmer Claire Cashmore insists she will arrive at this summer’s European Championships riding the crest of a wave after grabbing silver and bronze at the World Cup.

The 23-year-old stepped up a disability category to compete in the 100m breaststroke but still grabbed silver in one minute 21.63 seconds — touching home ahead of fellow Brit Louise Watkin in the process.

The 2008 Paralympic bronze medallist also sealed third in the 50m freestyle in 30.38 in Manchester where she hardly had time to draw breath, also finishing fifth in the 100m backstroke.

While Cashmore could be excused for showing signs of tiredness, especially having just returned from a training camp in Mallorca, she’s adamant she couldn’t be fresher.

She said: “It was a very quick turnaround at the event with three races in very short time but I feel surprisingly fresh and probably could have done another race if there was one.”

The Paralympic World Cup took place in Manchester from May 23 to 28 with elite international athletes competing in swimming, athletics and wheelchair basketball.

Go to btparalympicworldcup.com for more information.