24 Jul 2017

Pitcher claims second medal at world para athletic champs

3:46 pm on 24 July 2017

New Zealand has finished with five medals, two silver and three bronze, at the World Para Athletics Championships in London.

The latest medals came in the men's T36 800m final with William Steadman winning silver and Keegan Pitcher bronze.

It was second medal for the 19 year old Pitcher at the event, having finished third in the T36 400m.

Keegan Pitcher (left) and William Stedman celebrate winning silver and bronze in the T36 800m final

Keegan Pitcher (left) and William Stedman celebrate winning silver and bronze in the T36 800m final Photo: Photosport

The Auckland student was competing in just his first international event.

Earlier Jessica Hamill won bronze in the F34 women's shot put, throwing 7.77m, just short of her New Zealand record 7.83m while Holly Robinson won a silver medal in the F46 javelin.

The medal total is one more than in Qatar two years ago with New Zealand finishing 52nd on the medal table well behind Australia who were fifth winning 28 medals in total including 11 gold.

Meanwhile a silver and a bronze medal on the final day of the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas has put New Zeland third overall on the medal table

Boxer Shylah Waikai won a silver medal in the 51kg division.

Shylah Waikai

Shylah Waikai Photo: Photosport

"It was a tough fight, mentally for me more than physically, because I know I have the skill to win gold but I am proud of how I fought," said Waikai.

"A lot of emotion at the moment, to have made it this far is awesome though and it's been an amazing experience."

Wellington high jumper Imogen Skelton cleared 1.76m, a personal best, to win bronze.

"I felt pretty nervous but once I cleared the first height I felt better and it went really well, I was really pleased to clear the first few heights on my first jump," Skelton said.

"The jump that I cleared 176 on was one of the best jumps that I've ever done, I knew that I had it in me and the atmosphere helped me get it."

New Zealand's final medal tally is 31, made up of 8 gold, 14 silver and 9 bronze to finish behind England and Australia.

Swimming won 20 of New Zealand's medals, boxing three, athletics six, beach volleyball and cyclibng both won a medal apiece.