Paralympics update

Published 10 September 2008, Posted in National

New Zealand won its third medal at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing with Wellington’s Kate Horan claiming the silver medal in the 200m final on day three of competition.

Horan, 33 looked to be out of the medals coming into the final 20 metres of the race, however the favourite and unbeaten runner of the past few years, April Holmes from the United States fell and took out the second placed runner Marie-Amelie Fur(France) as well. 

In the end Horan completed the race in third in a time of 28.36 seconds behind a German athlete.  For Horan the medal was a family affair and a surprise as well. 

“It was unbelievable on the podium. There were three girls all with the biggest smiles on their faces. It was so unexpected we were all really racing for bronze to start with. It was great to have my whole family there. Mum (Val) and dad (Neil) and the boys, Tony (aged 16) and Jared (age 11). The boys were blown away with the medal and when they saw guys wanting photos,” she said.

“You couldn’t ask for a better atmosphere. When I walked out into the stadium the noise from the crowd was amazing. In Athens I could see mum and dad in the stadium, they were the only ones there, but in Beijing it was all so surreal. “For my mum and dad and the boys to experience it all, it was pretty special.”

Horan will compete again on Sunday in the 100 metre race.

Team captain Tim Prendergast from Wellington made the final of the 5000m after coming second in a slow heat, although he ran the final lap of the 12 and a half circuit race in a good time of 59 seconds. Prendergast will take to the track in the 1500m heats today. 

In cycling the tandem of Jayne Parsons and Annaliisa Farrell narrowly missed out on a bronze after being beaten in the third placed medal race-off by the United States. The Kiwi pair finished with a time of 3 minutes 47.90 seconds against the American time of 3minutes 41.521 seconds in the individual pursuit. 

Shooter, Michael Johnson, a gold medalist in Athens missed the final of the Air Rifle Prone on a countback after finishing the heats eighth equal.

The schedule for Wednesday 10 September has the potential to feature more medals with Jessica Hamill (Invercargill) competing in the final of the discuss as well as Paula Tesoriero aiming for another gold in the individual pursuit.

Tesoriero has been declared fit to ride after suffering concussion in a fall after gold medal ride in the sprint race a couple of days ago. Northland’s Fiona Southorn competes in the Individual Pursuit heats and potentially the finals too while the Boccia teams event round robin gets under way.

In the pool Commonwealth Games rep Daniel Sharp has the opportunity to swim for gold in the 100m freestyle and Christchurch’s Sophie Pascoe, the youngest member of the New Zealand Paralympic team at just 15-years-old will race in the 100m breaststroke final while Cameron Leslie takes to the pool in the 50m butterfly.

Results from day 3 of competition:

Athletics
Kate Horan: T44: 200m - Final:  SILVER 28.36
Tim Prendergast:  T13: 5000m -  Heat:  2ND IN HEAT 15:47.26 (Qualified for final)

Cycling
New Zealand (Tandem):  B/VI: Individual Pursuit -  Qualifying:  4TH   3:47.271
                                                  3rd / 4th:    4TH   3:47.900 (vs USA 3.41.521)

Shooting
Michael Johnson:  SH2: Air Rifle Prone -  Qualifying:  9TH   599 / 600

Swimming
Sophie Pascoe:  S10: 100m Freestyle -  Heat:  9TH   1:05.90