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
