Pek headlines field for World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross-Country Champs
Poland’s returning double champion Daniel Pek headlines the field for the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport World Cross-Country Championships which get underway in Epernay, France, on Friday (8 December).
Pek, a double Paralympian and European champion in track and field, will try to defend his two titles from 2014 in the short and long distance races. He picked up double gold at the last World Championships in Ostrzeszów, Poland.
His main challengers are expected to be Portuguese teammates Cristiano Pereira and Jose Azevedo.
Pereira and Azevedo will be hoping for podium finishes having missed out at the 2017 World Intellectual Impairment Sport European Half Marathon Championships in September. Pereira is the 2014 cross-country long distance silver medallist. Azevedo took second in the short distance three years ago.
In the women’s hosts France have a strong medal chance. Marion Candelier claimed silver in the long distance in 2014.
In the absence of Poland’s defending champion Barbara Niewiedzial, Candelier will look to claim gold for her country.
The men’s and women’s short distance event will take place on Friday. The men and women will race over 4km and 3km, respectively.
The long distance will be contested on Sunday (10 December) with the men tackling a 8km course and the women 6km.
About World Intellectual Impairment Sport
World Intellectual Impairment Sport represents more than 300,000 athletes with intellectual impairments around the world. We give elite athletes the chance to compete at an international level and on the Paralympic stage. But we cannot continue our work towards the inclusion of the people with intellectual impairments in society without your support.
We are a registered charity and your help can make a big difference. Find out more.
