Henry Added to World Champs and World Uni Games Squads
WAIS sprinter Jody Henry has been included in Australia’s 4 x 400m relay squad for the 2009 IAAF world championships in Berlin this August.
In a further boost to her 2009 international campaign, Henry was also included into the World University Games where she will compete in the women’s 100m sprint.
Henry was part of the Australian relay squad that easily obtained a qualifying time at a Grand Prix meet in Japan earlier this month, and she will join fellow world championship debutants Madeleine Pape, Caitlin Pincott and Pirrenee Stienert in the squad alongside the experienced duo of Tamsyn Lewis and Jana Rawlinson.
Henry’s selection is something of a milestone in itself as Australia has not been represented by a women’s 4 x 400m relay team in a world championships campaign since the Seville world titles in 1999.
They will be one of three relay squads in Berlin, joining the men’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 400m squads.
Before the excitement of Berlin however, Henry will get to compete in the 100m sprint in the 25th edition of the World Uni Games, which are being held in Belgrade, Serbia in July.
Henry will be one of 38 athletes representing Australia at the bi-annual competition that is expected to see over 8,000 athletes from around the world in action.
Henry qualifies for the tournament through her academic pursuits in teaching.
Past Australian gold medallists have included Shirley Strickland (100m and 80m hurdles – 1955), Ralph Doubell (800m – 1967), Shaun Creighton (3000m steeple – 1991), Alison Inverarity (high jump – 1991), Jane Jamieson (heptathlon – 1995 and 2001), Emma George (pole vault -1997), Eloise Wellings (5000m – 2003), Kylie Wheeler (heptathlon – 2003), Crowther (2007 – long jump) and Wroe (2007 – 400m).