08.10.2009

Fearnley eyes off hat-trick in Chicago

Australian wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley will attempt to win his third straight Chicago Marathon this Sunday.
 
Fearnley's unbeaten record on the streets of Chicago, where he took out line honours in 2007 and again in 2008, and his standing as the sport's premier wheelchair marathoner will see him start as firm favourite for Sunday's event. The Australian won’t have it all his own way though after a six-month break from international competition and an elite multi-national field set to take to the start line.
 
After winning three marathons in quick succession earlier this year, Fearnley has spent less time in his race chair and more time on the ground as he prepares for a November crawl across Papua New Guinea's Kokoda Track.

Despite a limited race schedule, Fearnley's year to date  shows form is on the side of the three-time Paralympian and five-time world champion athlete, with four wins from four starts in 2009 including last month's Sydney event.

The 28-year-old New South Welshman is aiming to win six marathons from as many starts in 2009 and needs only to add the Chicago and New York titles to his year-long record to achieve the feat.
 
"This year has definitely been different," Fearnley said.
 
"I've gone from racing 11 marathons in 2007 to a dedicated Paralympic campaign last year to hardly racing at all this year. It has been a nice change and I've enjoyed my first winter at home since I started racing but I can't wait to get back on the streets and back into racing.
 
"When I have raced this year things have gone well and the result in Sydney was comforting after such a long break from marathons."
 
The Chicago wheelchair field will feature athletes from more than a dozen countries including last year's runner-up Masazumi Soejima of Japan.
 
"Soejima is one of the toughest marathoners in the world and is always there or thereabouts towards the finish. The course is quite flat and with such a strong field it will probably come down to the last few kilometres," Fearnley said.
 
"I've improved in the back end of my races over the last year, so if it is tight coming into the finish I'll be a good chance."
 
After returning from Chicago next week Fearnley will finalise preparations for the two biggest events on his 2009 calendar - the New York Marathon on November 1, where he will attempt to win his fourth straight title in the Big Apple, and his crawl of the greulling Kokoda Track later that same month.

Click here to visit Kurt Fearnley's online blog