Athletics Australia – News – Fearnley wins Performer Awards, with Christchurch 50 days away

Athletics Australia’s Paralympic Preparation Program will celebrate twice today, with Kurt Fearnley named Australian Sports Performer of the Year with a Disability overnight and the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships to be held in Christchurch (NZL) now only 50 days away.

Nominated alongside Australia’s best disabled athletes including fellow track and field star Jess Gallagher, Fearnley’s win caps of another successful year for the New South Welshman that includes a Commonwealth Games gold medal in the T54 1500m.

Stopping the clock at 3:19.86 in New Delhi (IND), Fearnley joined Australian Flame team mate Richard Colman (3:20.90) on the podium with the duo securing an Australian one-two at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on day 5 of athletics action.

With his win last night marking back-to-back success at the Performer Awards for Fearnley, the wheelchair marathon extraordinaire has enjoyed an equally successful year on road winning his sixth consecutive Sydney Marathon in a time of 1:38:12 and placing third at the New York Marathon behind long time British rival David Weir.

“Thanks 2 (sic) everyone who voted 4 (sic) the Sports Performer of the Year Awards,” Fearnley posted on his Twitter last night.

“Wish all the other nominees a great 2011 and thanks 2 (sic) my sister for accepting it 4 (sic) me,”

Selected to compete in the T54 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m and the wheelchair marathon at the IPC Athletics World Championships in January, Fearnley today will also join his 49 fellow selected athletes in celebrating 50 days until the opening ceremony on Friday, January 21 2011.

To be held in the southern hemisphere for the first time, the Championships will bring together in excess of 1300 athletes from 70 nations with 1000 officials, coaches, managers and international technical officials expected to join them for nine days of blistering competition.

Australia’s team for the championships includes 26 Paralympians competing alongside Commonwealth Games medallists Fearnley (gold, T54 1500m), Louise Ellery (gold, F32-34/52/53 shot put), Simon Patmore (gold, T46 100m), Colman (silver, T54 1500m) and Hamish MacDonald (bronze, F32/34/53 shot put).

To be joined in Christchurch by 17 debutantes, the team boasts a mix of experience and youth with MacDonald, Evan O’Hanlon and Tim Sullivan all looking to retain their status as world champions following their victories at the 2006 instalment of the meet in Assen (NED).

“Domestically we have had some challenges with weather and athletes getting a chance to compete but I am confident in their training to date and planned competition opportunities between now and the start gun,” Rohan Short, Athletics Australia’s Paralympic Preparation Program said.

“I’m excited for the athletes and the opportunities the World Champs will provide them, I remind them to take their chance on the world stage and look forward to celebrating some great results with them come January.”

For more information on the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships, including information on how to purchase tickets, please follow this link to the local organising committee website.

Athletics Australia – News