University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Kerkhoff selected to 2024 U.S. Paralympic Track & Field National Team
1/19/2024 2:33:00 PM | Track and Field
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- UNI's Erin Kerkhoff has been named to the 2024 U.S. Paralympic national track and field team, as announced by U.S. Paralympic Track and Field on Thursday.
Kerkhoff, a Coralville, Iowa native and sprinter for UNI, was among 61 athletes selected to this year's team who will compete this season with focus on the 2024 Para Athletics World Championships in Kobe, Japan, and the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
"With the unique situation of having both a world championships and a Paralympic Games, this is one of the busiest and most exciting years we've ever had in Para Athletics," said Sherrice Fox, Director of U.S. Paralympics Track & Field. "We will be looking to our national team to lead us into 2024, and we have no doubt that this group has the experience and talent to excel on the world stage."
Kerkhoff, who is visually impaired due to optic nerve atrophy, makes her third appearance on the national team after most recently competing on the Para Athletics world stage this past summer when she won the bronze medal in the women's T13 200-meter dash at the 2023 Para Athletics World Championships in Paris. She also placed sixth in the T13 100-meter dash at the event. Kerkhoff also claimed T13 titles last summer in 100, 200 and 400-meter races at the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field National Championships in Chula Vista, California.
A former standout at Solon High School, Kerkhoff makes her third appearance on the U.S. national team in 2024. Kerkhoff will attempt to compete in her second Paralympic Games this year, after qualifying for Tokyo games in 2021, where she placed eighth in the T13 400 meters.
"We are once again ecstatic for Erin to have the chance to represent the United States on the international stage," said Dave Paulsen, UNI's Director of Track and Field. "Erin has dedicated herself to be the best version of herself and put herself into a great position to compete among the world's best athletes. We as coaches and teammates are thrilled to support her in her journey towards her second Paralympic Games appearance and are excited to see where the opportunities take her."
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.
In addition to Kerkhoff, former Panther Jessica Heims was also named to the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field team for 2024. Heims, a two-time Paralympian and 2021 UNI graduate, placed seventh in the 400-meter dash at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and eighth in the discus in 2021 in Tokyo.
Players Mentioned
