20 June 2014 

GB & NI’s biggest para-stars will return to the track and field this weekend (20-22 June) for the IPC Athletics Grand Prix in Berlin.

Aled Davies (coach: Anthony Hughes) will be looking to continue his impressive start to the season after breaking the 12 year old T42 discus world record earlier this month. The 23 year old, who was also named captain of the Welsh team for the Commonwealth Games, is focused on delivering another solid performance in Germany with Glasgow 2014 and the IPC European Championships in Swansea just around the corner.

The double world champion said: “The aim is to keep progressing. The closer we get to the Commonwealth Games, the better shape I will be getting in. I’m excited to see what I can do, because I know I can go further and further. I know what I can do in training, I just want to convert that on the big stage when it matters.  

“The IPC Grand Prix events are getting so competitive and a great marker for Glasgow and Swansea. I’ve been out to Berlin competing since 2007 and it’s one of my favourite competitions. It brings in the majority of athletes from around the world and I think this year will be the biggest one yet.”  

Richard Whitehead (Keith Antoine), a gold medallist at London 2012 and the IPC Word Championships last year will also be aiming to show his best form in the as the 37 year old lines up in the T42 100m and 200m. Fellow Paralympic gold medallist Josie Pearson (Hughes) will join Whitehead in Berlin taking to the field in the club throw and discus.

T38 100m world champion and world record holder Sophie Hahn (Joe McDonnell) will headline the 100m field, while also running in the 400m after clocking 69.34 on her first outing over the distance.

World gold medallists Paul Blake (Robert Ellchuk) and Hollie Arnold (Hughes) will head to Germany competing in the T36 400m and F46 javelin respectively, while London 2012 silver medallist Stef Reid (Rana Reider) will be hoping to continue to show her good form in the F44 100m and long jump.  

Libby Clegg (T12 100m and 200m) (Antoine), Kyron Duke (F40 javelin, shot put) (Hughes), Jonathan Broom-Edwards (F44 high jump) (Fuzz Ahmed), Dan Greaves (F44 discus) (Jim Edwards) who are all silver medallists from last year’s IPC World Championships will all be targeting first position in preparation for another big summer ahead.

Berlin will also welcome some new faces to the GB & NI ranks, and you can see the full startlist here: http://idm-leichtathletik.de/en/ausschreibung.html