Posted on Monday 8th May, 2017

Following a very successful Rio 2016 Paralympics campaign where New Zealand won nine medals, three of which were gold, a team of six have been named to represented New Zealand at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London.

While Rio star Liam Malone continues to recover from a leg injury and is not available to compete in London, the team will be lead by Rio long jump gold medallist Anna Grimaldi from Otago, competing in the T45/46/47 combined classification long jump.

Rio throws medallists Holly Robinson (F45/46 javelin), Rory McSweeney (F42/43/44 javelin) and Jessica Hamill (F34 shot put) will all contest their specialist events.

Surprise Rio star William Stedman (Canterbury) will race in the T36 400m and 800m, where he took a pair of bronze medals, and will be joined by newcomer Keegan Pitcher (also T36) from Auckland who pushed Stedman at the New Zealand Championships.

The Championships will be held in London at the 2012 Olympic Stadium 14 – 23 July ahead of the IAAF World Championships.

Keegan Pitcher                 Auckland             T36 200m/400m/800m

William Stedman              Canterbury         T36 400m/800m

Anna Grimaldi                   Otago                    T45/46/47 Long Jump

Jessica Hamill                     Otago                    F34 Shot Put

Rory McSweeney            Canterbury         F42/43/44 Javelin

Holly Robinson                  Otago                    F45/46 Javelin

Four named for inaugural Junior World Para Athletics Championships

Athletics New Zealand has named a team of four athletes for the inaugural World Junior Para Athletics Championships in Notwill, Switzerland.

Sprinters Libby Leikis (Wellington) who has a T37 classification and Anna Stevens (Auckland), a T44 athlete will compete in their first ever world championship event. Both will contest the 100m and 200m events.

Palmerston North’s Jack Lewer will contest the F20 shot put at the championships. Lewer set multiple New Zealand records during the NZ domestic season and competed in both the Para shot put and the able bodied events at the New Zealand Championships.

Guy Harrison from Hastings is selected in the T35 800m subject to obtaining international classification prior to the championships.

The championships will be held from 3 – 6 August 2016 and are an opportunity for New Zealand to blood some exciting young talent to take advantage of New Zealand’s great showing at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Libby Leikis                         Wellington          T37 100m/200

Anna Stevens                    Auckland             T44 100m/200

Jack Lewer                          Manawatu          F20 Shot Put

Guy Harrison                      Hawkes Bay        T35 800m