The 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo begin on August 24, 2021, and four Iowans have qualified to compete. Jessica Heims of Swisher and Erin Kerkhoff of Solon will be representing team U.S.A on the track and field team. Heims and Kerkhoff were teammates on the University of Northern Iowa women's track and field team.
Heims graduated from Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids and competed in the 2016 Rio games. She is the U.S. record holder in the f-64 discus throw. She took first place in the Olympic trials and is currently ranked second in the world ahead of the games.
This will be Kerkhoff's first Paralympics. She is ranked fifth in the world in the t-13 400-meter dash. She will also run in the 100-meter dash where she's ranked ninth. She finished second in both events at the trials.
Heims and Kerkhoff join host Charity Nebbe on this edition of Talk of Iowa.
Guests:
- Jessica Heims, recent UNI graduate and two-time Paralympic qualifier in the discus throw
- Erin Kerkhoff, sophomore at UNI on the track and field team and Paralympic qualifier in the 100 and 400-meter dash
