UNI's Erin Kerkhoff gears up for World Para Championship debut

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI's Erin Kerkhoff will step back onto the international stage starting Sunday afternoon as the Panther sprinter will make her debut at the World Para Athletics Championships in Paris.

Kerkhoff, a rising UNI senior, was named to the 2023 U.S. Paralympic National Team in May, one of 45 Americans picked to represent the red, white and blue at Charlety Stadium. The Solon, Iowa native is scheduled to run in the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes in France in the T13 classification. Legally blind due to optic nerve atrophy since birth, Kerkhoff, who has 20/300 vision in her right eye and 20/400 vision in her left eye, will compete against athletes with similar visual impairments over the course of six days of competition.

Having earned first place finishes in the women's T13 100, 200 and 400-meter races at the U.S. Paralympic National Championships this spring, Kerkhoff will have an opportunity to qualify for the U.S. team for next summer's Paralympic Games, also scheduled to be held in Paris. Kerkhoff made her Paralympic debut at the delayed Tokyo games in 2021, finishing eighth in the women's T13 400-meter dash.

During this past collegiate season, Kerkhoff set new career-bests in the indoor 60 meters (8.12) and indoor 400-meter dash (56.72), while also clocking a new career record in the outdoor 200-meter dash (25.69) for the Panthers. She notably took third place in the 200 meters at the Wartburg Outdoor Select, as well as second in the 400 meters at Augustana, and fourth at Simpson.

WORLD PARA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE

***All times listed as Central time***

Erin Kerkhoff

July 9 - 12:30 p.m. | 100m T13 (First Round)
July 10 - 12:35 p.m. | 100m T13 (Final)
July 11 - 3:14 a.m. | 200m T13 (First Round)
July 12 - 12:57 p.m. | 200m T13 (Final)
July 16 - 3:29 a.m. | 400m T13 (First Round)
July 17 - 12:27 p.m. | 400m T13 (Final)

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