Stop Press: 7 November, 2011
Fearnley finishes second in New York
Australian wheelchair athlete Kurt Fearnley has finished second in the New York marathon.
Four-time New York winner Fearnley finished in a time of 1hour 33minutes 56seconds, a little over two minutes behind winner Soejima Masazumi of Japan. Fearnley encountered mechanical problems during the race with his steering mechanism snapping around half way through the 42km course. Fearnley did all he could to stay with Soejima but couldn’t maintain the necessary speed during the tight cornering late in the race.
Fearnley was disappointed to not be able to contend because of mechanical issues.
“Shattered, absolutely shattered” Fearnley said after crossing the finish line.
“I came here pushing quicker than I ever have before so to have things affected by my steering and not my arms is pretty disappointing” he added.
More than 25 wheelchair athletes lined up in the elite field representing more than a dozen nations. Fearnley was quickly in the lead over the steep Verrezano Bridge, opening up a 10 second break in the first two kilometres. A pack of four worked together to reel him in over the next five kilometres but only two could hold the pace with Fearnley after the early attack, Soejima and countryman Hokinoue.
Soejima made his break at the 25km mark after Fearnley’s steering failed and took advantage of the circumstances to open up what turned out to be the winning margin.
Through his frustration, Fearnley was resolute and did not take anything away from Soejima’s performance.
“In the end that’s racing. Some days it goes your way and other days it goes the other way” Fearnley said.
“Full credit to Soejima, he’s a great performer and has had a fantastic year after winning in Boston. We’ve had some great battles over the last few years and it’s just disappointing I couldn’t stick with him today so we could spar it out through Central Park” he added.
Fearnley’s 2011 season is now over with big wins in the IPC World Championship, Sydney and Chicago marathons to go with runner-up finishes in Boston and New York.
His attention now turns to the biggest year in his career with the London 2012 Paralympic Games offering an opportunity no athlete has had in the past – the chance to win three straight marathon gold medals. Fearnley took gold in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing marathons and will look to become the first athlete to win three straight in London.
Stop Press: 4 November, 2011
Fearnley rounds out season in New York marathon
Australian wheelchair racing champion Kurt Fearnley will round out his 2011 competitive year at the New York marathon this Sunday.
Fearnley will start a strong favourite in the race with a winning record in New York coupled with good racing form having won last month’s Chicago marathon.
While acknowledging his own strong chance, Fearnley realises he won’t have it all his way come race day.
“Sunday should be a fantastic race,” Fearnley said from New York base.
“I’m pushing well and have a good record around the streets here but there’s going to be twenty or so blokes on the start line that will fancy their chances as well” he added.
“2011 has been a very strong year in wheelchair marathoning and there have been very few multiple winners. I’ve been lucky enough to grab a couple (IPC World Championships and Chicago) and so has Hug from Switzerland but no one has grabbed three big one’s this year. I hope it’s me.”
Fearnley and Marcel Hug will be joined on the start line by a who’s who of wheelchair racing with athletes from 11 countries starting in the elite division including four former New York winners. There is one notable omission however, with defending New York champion David Weir of Great Britain electing to skip this year’s contest.
“Dave’s got a three month old son keeping him busy and he’s decided to skip this year and concentrate on his preparation for next year’s Paralympics” Fearnley said.
“It’s disappointing he’s not here as you always want to beat the best but he’s not the only bloke in wheelchair racing and the field is strong and deep and it will still be a cracking race without him.”
Fearnley will attempt to win his third straight Paralympic marathon next year in London, having won in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
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archived media releases
Sporting Achievements – Kurt Fearnley
| Meet Name |
Event/Class |
Placing |
| 2000 Paralympic Games, Sydney |
T54 800m |
Silver |
| 2000 Paralympic Games, Sydney |
T54 1500m |
4th |
| 2000 Olympic Games, Sydney |
Demonstration Event – 1500m |
4th |
| 2000 Marathon, Sydney |
Marathon 42km |
1st |
| 2002 Marathon, Sydney |
Marathon 42km |
1st |
| 2004 Marathon, LA |
Marathon 42km |
1st |
| 2004 New York |
10km |
1st |
| 2004 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
2nd |
| 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens |
T54 800m |
4th |
| 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens |
T54 1500m |
4th |
| 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens |
T54 5km |
GOLD |
| 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens |
T54 Marathon |
GOLD |
| 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens |
Men’s Relay 4x100m |
SILVER |
| 2004 Male Athlete of the Year |
| 2005 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
1st |
| 2006 Marathon, New York |
Marathon 42km |
3rd |
| 2006 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
1st |
| 2006 Marathon, Seoul |
42km |
1st |
| 2006 Toronto |
10km |
1st |
| 2006 Long Island |
10km |
1st |
| 2006 IPC World Championships |
800m |
GOLD |
| 2006 IPC World Championships |
5000m |
GOLD |
| 2006 IPC World Championships |
Marathon |
GOLD |
| 2006 IPC World Championships |
1500m |
BRONZE |
| 2006 Tyne Tunnel |
2000m |
1st |
| 2006 Great North Run |
21.1km |
1st |
| 2006 Oita Wheelchair Marathon |
42km |
SILVER |
| 2006 ING New York Marathon |
42km |
1st |
| 2007 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
1st |
| 2007 Nationals South Africa |
Marathon |
1st |
| 2007 Marathon South Africa |
42km |
1st |
| 2007 Marathon, Los Angelos |
42km |
1st |
| 2007 Marathon, Rome |
42km |
1st |
| 2007 Marathon, Paris |
42km |
1st |
| 2007 Marathon, London |
42km |
2nd |
2007 IAAF World Athletics Championships, Osaka |
Demonstration Event - 1500m |
1st |
| 2007 La Salle Bank Chicago Marathon |
42km |
1st |
| 2007 Marathon, New York |
42km |
1st |
| 2008 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
1st |
| 2008 Marathon, London |
42km |
2nd |
| 2008 Outstanding Elite Male Athelete with a Disability |
27th Commonwealth Sports Awards |
|
| 2008 Long Island, New York |
10km |
1st |
| 2008 Cedertown, Georgia |
5km |
1st |
| 2008 Peachtree, Atlanta |
10km |
1st |
| 2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing |
T54 800m |
SILVER |
| 2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing |
T54 42km Marathon |
GOLD |
| 2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing |
T54 5000m |
SILVER |
| 2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing |
T54 1500m |
BRONZE |
| 2008 Marathon, Chicago |
42km |
1st |
| 2009 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
1st |
| 2009 Marathon, Paris |
42km |
1st |
| 2009 Marathon, London |
42km |
1st |
| 2009 Marathon, Seoul |
42km |
1st |
| 2009 Marathon, Chicago |
42km |
1st |
| 2009 Marathon, New York |
42km |
1st |
| 2009 Kokoda Trail crawl |
96km |
GOLD |
| 2010 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
1st |
| 2010 World Road Race, UAE |
10km |
3rd |
| 2010 London Marathon |
42km |
5th |
| 2010 Commonwealth Games |
T54 1500m |
GOLD |
| 2010 Marathon, New York |
42km |
3rd |
| 2011 IPC World Athletic Championships |
42km |
1st |
| 2011 Oz Day, Sydney |
10km |
1st |
| 2011 Gasparilla Distance Classic, Florida |
15km |
1st |
| 2011 Rolling Rampage, Ottawa |
10km |
2nd |
| 2011 Marathon, Boston |
42km |
2nd |
| 2011 Marathon, Sydney |
42km |
1st |
| 2011 Marathon, Chigaco |
42km |
1st |
| 2011 Marathon, New York |
42km |
2nd |
