Nikita on track for Tokyo Paralympian sends world 200m record flying
Te Awamutu Paralympian Nikita Howarth showed she means business in the sport of Para cycling breaking the Flying 200m world record at the Southland Track Cycling Championships in Invercargill.
Howarth’s time of 12.95 seconds took 0.248 seconds off the previous record set by New Zealand Paralympian Kate Horan in February 2016.
“I’m thrilled as I have only been training for this specific event for about a month now,” said the new world record holder.
“I have completed this time in training, so I thought I could do it but with all the race nerves it is challenging and you never quite know how it is going to go.”
Howarth has had a change of coach recently. Damien Wiseman has taken her on board and is with her every day at the track.
“We have changed our training and have been more focused on the sprint which has paid off today,” said Howarth.
“I have trimmed about three seconds off my personal best time so I am happy with that and I’m looking forward to continuing to focus on this.”
Howarth is well known for her achievements in Para swimming, debuting at the London 2012 Paralympic Games as New Zealand’s youngest ever Paralympian at the age of 13.
Four years later she won a gold and bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Following Rio 2016, Howarth took time to consider her sporting future and chose Para cycling as her next challenge.
Howarth was one of 16 Para cyclists competing at the Southland Cycling Track Championships at the weekend.
Another Te Awamutu Tokyo Paralympic hopeful, Nicole Murray (C5) enhanced her prospects by winning gold in the Women’s 3km Individual Pursuit C1-5. Silver went to Sarah Ellington (C2) and bronze to Kate Horan (C4).
Howarth and Murray took silver and bronze respectively in the women’s 500m time trial C1-5, won by Horan.
This UCI sanctioned event gave all Para cyclists the opportunity to meet nomination criteria for the NZ Para Cycling Team to compete at the 2019 UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships in the Netherlands in March.
“I’m proud of the whole team, athletes and staff that are here in Invercargill,” said Stu MacDonald, Para Cycling head performance coach.
“However, it is also those support staff that are based in the home towns of the Para cyclists that are with them on a day to day basis that are critical to the success we have seen today and without the support of High Performance Sport NZ this would not be possible.
“Overall, today’s racing was a great step in the right direction towards selection for the UCI Para Cycling Track World Championships, and onwards to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.”