By James Crook

Kelly Cartwright London 2012February 13 - The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) have announced the first five members of their squad for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships to be held in Lyon this summer.


London 2012 Paralympic gold medallists Evan O'Hanlon, Kelly Cartwright (pictured top), Richard Colman, and Todd Hodgetts have all been selected to compete, along with four-time World Champion Kurt Fearnley.

O'Hanlon won the 100 and 200 metres in T38 category at both London 2012 and Beijing 2008, and he will be defending the titles he won in both these events at the 2011 IPC World Championships in Christchurch this summer.

Seeking a new challenge, O'Hanlon will also compete in the 400m at Lyon, which is due to begin on July 19 and finish on July 28.

"I've decided to add the 400m to my schedule for World Championships because I am really keen to challenge myself in a new event." said the 24-year-old from Sydney.

"I've been lucky to enjoy the success I have in the short sprints and I now want to push the limits on something new."

151496415Evan O'Hanlon will defend his 100m and 200m T38 titles in Lyon, as well as competing in the 400m

Named 2012 Female Athlete with a Disability of the Year by Athletics Australia, Cartwright took silver in the T42 100m at London 2012 and went one better in the long jump, taking gold with a world record jump of 4.38 metres.

She will be defending the 100m gold she took at the 2011 World Championships, setting a new Championship record of 16.45 seconds.

"I had surgery on my ankle when I came home from London, and to have my selection pretty much wrapped up because of my performance at the Games is very reassuring as I continue to recover the best I can," she said.

"The World Championships are the biggest event on the calendar this year, and with that in mind I want to make sure that I perform well in France.

"I had great success in Christchurch two years ago and to replicate that again in 2013 would be a fantastic result."

Richard Colman London 2012Richard Colman won gold in the 800m at London 2012, as well as bronzes in the 400m and 4x400m


Colman won gold in the 800m T53 at London, as well as two bronze medals in the 400m and 4x400m relay, and Hodgett's won gold in the Men's Shot Put F20 at last year's Paralympics.

Wheelchair racer Fearnley has 11 Paralympic medals to his name after competing at the last four Games, and will be looking to retain his Men's Marathon T54 title at the 2013 World Championships.

Athletics Australia chairman of selectors, Dion Russell, paid tribute to the selected athletes.

"Congratulations to this outstanding group of athletes," he said.

"It must be very reassuring to know that your performance at the London 2012 Paralympic Games has all but ensured your selection to compete at the World Championships later this year.

"Four of these athletes won gold medals at the Paralympic Games to ensure their selection, and in Kurt's case, his bronze medal in the marathon earned him automatic selection."

Athletics Australia selectors will make further squad announcements following the 2013 Australian Athletics Championships and its final selectors meeting on June 3.

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