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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Kurt Fearnley

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