Cork athletes head for the Paralympics World Championships in Lyon, France...

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships will be held in Lyon in the south-east of France between the 19th and 28th of July. Three athletes from Cork will be on the Irish team of eight for the athletics events.

Amanda Crotty, Orla Barry and John McCarthy...the Cork athletes heading for the IPC World Championships

AMANDA CROTTY
Event...1500m    PB...5:15.00    Class...T12
In August 2011, Amanda ran a Paralympic “A” standard for 1500m at the National Championships with her guide runner James Cosgrave. Having narrowly missed out on selection for London 2012, July’s IPC World Athletics Championships in Lyon will be Amanda’s first major championship. Her guide on this occasion will be Kevin Nolan from Athlone. Amanda will be hoping to continue her impressive form as she builds towards the ultimate goal of the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

ORLA BARRY
Event...Discus    PB...30.48m    Class...F57
Orla is a full-time athlete and broke onto the international scene aged just sixteen in 2006, earning a creditable fifth in her F57 discus final at Beijing 2008. She went two places higher when claiming a superb bronze in the same event at London 2012. Finishing just outside the medals at 2011′s IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand, Orla will be aiming for podium glory at this year’s championships in Lyon. With a world-best throw in Lyon’s test event in May, her form shows she is capable of further medal success.

JOHN MCCARTHY
Event...100m   PB...24.81   Class...T51 / Event...Club   PB...22.95m   Class...F51
John McCarthy took up Paralympic athletics in 1995 and represented Ireland at Athens 2004 (winning discus silver) and Beijing 2008. John competed creditably at London 2012, reaching the final of 100m wheelchair sprint. Outside of the Paralympic Games, John has competed in numerous international competitions with bronze in the club in 2006’s World Athletics Championships in Holland a particular highlight. He has also played wheelchair rugby to a high-level, representing Ireland at European Championship level.

The remaining five Irish athletes are...
Jason Smyth (Co Derry) – T13 100m & 200m
Michael McKillop (Co Antrim) – T37 800m &1500m
Catherine O’Neill (Co Wexford) – F51 Discus & Club Throw
Heather Jameson (Co Dublin) – T37 100m, 200m & Long Jump
Deirdre Mongan (Co Galway) – F52/53 Shot Put