Culliton and O'Dwyer encouraged by IPC Athletics World Championships performances

Ireland's Garrett Culliton and Ray O'Dwyer have been encouraged by their respective performances at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand and will now focus on qualification for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Seasoned competitor Garrett Culliton from Clonaslee, Co. Laois threw 17.49m in the F52 Discus final and finished the event in sixth place.

"It was a good competition with quality opponents. I threw well in the first round but was unable to improve on this in the second round. It gives me a clear indication of what work I have to do in preparation for London 2012,"stated Culliton after the event.

Hugginstown's Ray O'Dwyer threw 19.76m in the F34 Javelin final which left the Kilkenny native with an overall ranking of 11. At just 20 years of age this was O'Dywer's first appearance at a major championships.

James Nolan, Team Manager of the Irish Team in New Zealand, said, "I was very impressed with Ray today. He was composed out there in the stadium even when interrupted by an overeager official. Some are born to stay cool in pressure situations, Ray possesses this quality. At age 20 it may be RIO 2016 before we see Ray at his best but I have no doubt he will be on a Paralympic podium."

In other major news from the IPC World Athletics Championships South African Oscar Pistorius dramatically lost out to Jerome Singleton from the US in the final for the T44 100m final. Both athletes recorded the relatively slow time of 11.34secs but Singleton was awarded the gold medal and title of world champion. This was the first time that the Pistorius had been beaten in the 100m since the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games.

Reigning Paralympic 800m champion Michael McKillop will compete in the T37 800m final today.