University of Northern Iowa Athletics
TOKYO BOUND - Heims, Kerkhoff Earn Spot on Team USA
6/24/2021 3:00:00 PM | Track and Field
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – Jessica Heims and Erin Kerkhoff will participate in the 2020 Paralympic games in Tokyo, Japan, the US Paralympic Committee announced, Thursday.
Heims, a 2016 Rio games veteran and the US Record holder in the f64 discus, took first place in the Olympic trials in the event, last Saturday. Heims is currently ranked second in the world in the event ahead of the games.
Kerkhoff will make her first appearance in the games after stepping into para athletics competition this summer. She is ranked fifth in the world in the T13 400-meter dash with a time of 58.23 at the trials last weekend. She will also likely run in the 100-meter dash where she is ranked ninth. She finished second in both events at the trials.
Despite strong performances at the trials by both Heims and Kerkhoff, the pair had to wait until the official announcement Thursday because of limited allotments for the games.
Heims and Kerkhoff are both Iowa natives. Heims hails from Swisher and attended Cedar Rapids Prairie HS. Kerkhoff is from Solon where she was a four-time state qualifier for the Spartans.
The Paralympic Games are scheduled for Aug. 24 – Sept. 5 at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.
Heims, a 2016 Rio games veteran and the US Record holder in the f64 discus, took first place in the Olympic trials in the event, last Saturday. Heims is currently ranked second in the world in the event ahead of the games.
Kerkhoff will make her first appearance in the games after stepping into para athletics competition this summer. She is ranked fifth in the world in the T13 400-meter dash with a time of 58.23 at the trials last weekend. She will also likely run in the 100-meter dash where she is ranked ninth. She finished second in both events at the trials.
Despite strong performances at the trials by both Heims and Kerkhoff, the pair had to wait until the official announcement Thursday because of limited allotments for the games.
Heims and Kerkhoff are both Iowa natives. Heims hails from Swisher and attended Cedar Rapids Prairie HS. Kerkhoff is from Solon where she was a four-time state qualifier for the Spartans.
The Paralympic Games are scheduled for Aug. 24 – Sept. 5 at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.
Players Mentioned
Throws / Sprints
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and FieldPanther Conversations - Week 1
Wednesday, January 14
Dave Paulsen Press Conference - Jan. 12, 2026.
Monday, January 12
Dave Paulsen Press Conference - Dec. 8, 2025.
Wednesday, December 10
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 13)
Wednesday, November 12