KEY POINTS:
BEIJING - New Zealand won its third medal at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing with Wellington's Kate Horan claiming the silver medal in the 200m final on day three of competition.
Horan, 33, looked to be out of the medals coming into the final 20 metres of the race, but the favourite and unbeaten runner of the past few years, April Holmes from the United States, fell and took second placed runner Marie-Amelie Fur (France) with her.
In the end Horan finished second in a time of 28.36 seconds.
For Horan the medal was a family affair and a surprise as well.
"It was unbelievable on the podium. There were three girls all with the biggest smiles on their faces. It was so unexpected, we were all really racing for bronze to start with.
"It was great to have my whole family there. Mum (Val) and dad (Neil) and the boys, Tony (aged 16) and Jared (age 11). The boys were blown away with the medal and when they saw guys wanting photos," she said.
"You couldn't ask for a better atmosphere. When I walked out into the stadium the noise from the crowd was amazing. In Athens I could see Mum and Dad in the stadium, they were the only ones there, but in Beijing it was all so surreal."
"For my Mum and Dad and the boys to experience it all, it was pretty special."
Horan will compete again on Sunday in the 100 metre race.
Team captain Tim Prendergast from Wellington made the final of the 5000m after coming second in a slow heat, although he ran the final lap of the 12 and a half circuit race in a good time of 59 seconds.
Prendergast will take to the track in the 1500m heats today.
In cycling the tandem of Jayne Parsons and Annaliisa Farrell narrowly missed out on a bronze after being beaten in the third placed medal race-off by the United States.
The pair finished with the a time of 3 minutes 47.90 seconds against the American time of 3 minutes 41.521 seconds in the individual pursuit.
Shooter, Michael Johnson, a gold medallist in Athens missed the final of the air rifle prone on a countback after finishing the heats eighth equal.
The schedule for today has potential to feature more medals with Jessica Hamill (Invercargill) competing in the final of the discuss as well as Paula Tesoriero aiming for another gold in the individual pursuit.
Tesoriero has been declared fit to ride after suffering concussion in a fall after gold medal ride in the sprint race a couple of days ago.
Northland's Fiona Southorn competes in the individual pursuit heats and potentially the finals too while the boccia teams event round robin gets under way.
In the pool Commonwealth Games rep Daniel Sharp has the opportunity to swim for gold in the 100m freestyle and Christchurch's Sophie Pascoe, the youngest member of the New Zealand Paralympic team at just 15-years-old, will race in the 100m breaststroke final while Cameron Leslie takes to the pool in the 50m butterfly.
NZ results day three:
Athletics: Kate Horan 200m final SILVER 28.36
Tim Prendergast: 5000m heat, 2nd, 15:47.26 (qualified for final)
Cycling: New Zealand (tandem), individual pursuit qualifying 4TH 3:47.271, 3rd/4th race-off, 4TH 3:47.900 (vs USA 3.41.521)
Shooting: Michael Johnson, air rifle prone qualifying 9TH 599/600
Swimming: Sophie Pascoe: 100m freestyle heat 9TH 1:05.90
- NZPA
