Superstar of Paralympics Competing In Christchurch

Around 50 Paralympic athletes from nations such as the United States,
Australia, Brazil and New Zealand will be competing in the Athletics New
Zealand Track & Field Championships starting tomorrow (Friday) at QEII Park
in Christchurch.

The three-day event will not only feature stars from able bodied athletics
world such as Valerie Villi but also Paralympic superstars such as American
sprinter April Holmes.

Holmes won the women's 100m gold medal at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics and
has generally been a dominant force in the sprint events with several world
titles over the past few years. She also has a bronze medal from the 2004
Athens Paralympics long jump event.

Also competing are Beijing 200m silver medallist Kate Horan from Wellington,
Beijing Paralympians sprinter Matt Slade from Auckland and Jessica Hamill
from Southland in the field events.

The large contingent of international athletes is attending the event as
part of their preparation for the 2011 IPC World Athletics Championships in
January next year at the same venue.

The 2011 IPC Athletics World Championship Local Organising Committee and
Athletics New Zealand invited all interested nations and their athletes to
Christchurch for a site visit. This visit will provide participating nations
with the opportunity to experience New Zealand and Christchurch and is one
of only two qualifying meetings for the World Championships.


www.paralympics.org.nz