26 January 2011 – SYDNEY, Australia: The 22nd annual GIO Oz Day 10K, the highest profile wheelchair sporting event in Australia, was a thrilling and fast-paced site today with  wheelchair athletes racing through the streets of The Rocks, Sydney.

The Australia Day iconic event attracted elite wheelchair athletes around the world.

Local athlete, crowd favourite and defending Champion Kurt Fearnley won his 7th consecutive title 21 seconds ahead of Heinz Frei (SUI) and Ernst Van Dyk (RSA).

The Open’s Women’s Race was won by Sandra Rush (USA) in a time of 30:40, with young Queenslander Sara Tait finishing second in the women’s event.

The Junior race was won by Nathen Arkley, (South Australia) , with Declan Young (NSW) and Rheed McCracken (QLD)  second and third consecutively.

The very first winner of Oz Day 10K in 1990, Craig Blancette (USA) also competed the race this year.

Competing racers were from Switzerland, Mexico, South Africa, USA and of course Australia.

Athletes completed two laps of the 5km course along areas of the foreshore including George St, The Rocks, and Hickson Road.


Open Men                                                 Open Women
Kurt Fearnley     AUS        21:04                    Sandra Rush     USA     30:40   

Masters                                                    Juniors
Heinz Frei          SUI         21:25                    Nathen Arkley    AUS     22:47   

Open Quad                                                      
Peter Angel       AUS         36:04               

Click here for official race times and category winners.