The nine-member New Zealand team for the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in
January in Christchurch has been confirmed. As a qualification event for the 2012 London
Paralympic Games the Kiwi athletes will be pitting themselves against 1000 of the best
athletes from around the world.
Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) has named Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jessica Hamill (Southland) as well as Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games 200 meter silver medallist Kate Horan (Wellington) and 2004 Athens Paralympic Games Gold medal winning middle distance runner Tim Prendergast (Wellington – living in London).
Fellow Commonwealth Games representative Matthew Lack was also named. Lack competed in Delhi coming within six-hundredths of a second of a bronze medal in the T54 1500m (wheelchair). The 19-year-old hails from Opotiki in the Bay of Plenty. However he is not the youngest in the team.
That honour goes to West Coast athlete Holly Robinson who is just 15. Robinson will compete in the Javelin and Shot Put at the IPC Athletics World Championships. Two other teenagers are part of the team; Sunil Fernandez-Ritchie, 17 from the Waikato who is competing in the 1500m and 17-year-old Chelsea Seagar (Auckland) who will compete in sprint events and the long jump.
Competing in field events are Joe Flavell (Auckland) and Rory McSweeney (Otago). Flavell, 33 was a former New Zealand Maori Rugby League and was a member of the Warriors development squad. He also excelled in basketball, rugby and softball at age group levels.
McSweeney is a 25-year-old javelin thrower from Dunedin.
"Paralympics New Zealand is very proud to be able to select such a strong team, which boasts international experience alongside great talent for the future and looking towards the 2012 London Paralympic Games
"With the IPC Athletics World Championships being held in Christchurch, it's a great opportunity to showcase Paralympic sport and New Zealand on the world stage," said Paralympics New Zealand CEO, Fiona Pickering.
Amongst some of the 1000 plus names from overseas who have confirmed their
participation in the event is world famous athlete Oscar 'Blade Runner' Pistorius who is part of South Africa's 35-strong team. Pistorius will be competing in the 100m, 200m and 400m T44 - all races he won four years ago at the last IPC Athletics World Championships in Assen, the Netherlands.
Joining Pistorius in Christchurch are the fastest Paralympians on the planet over 100m, Ireland's Jason Smyth (men's T13 world record holder at 10.62 seconds) and Brazil's Terezinha Guihermino (women's T11 world record holder since 2007).
The event will be the largest major gathering of international IPC athletes before the London 2012 Paralympic Games. It will also be the last opportunity for the athletes to qualify for London.
With less than 100 days to go to the World Championships, the position and scale of the event has been recognised with a local sponsor coming on board. Pub Charity has approved just under $800,000 for the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships and as the starting blocks for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
The sponsorship confirmation is a great boost for both Paralympics New Zealand and the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championship Organising Committee and will assist both the event and athletes.
Tickets to see the IPC Athletics World Championships which take place January 21-30, 2011 are now on-sale and can be purchased from www.ticketdirect.co.nz. Adult tickets cost just $10 per day. Purchase before 30 November and receive a 20 per cent discount.
For the latest news about the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships, visit www.ipcathleticsworldchamps.com.
