Colman to race a protege

DUAL gold medal winning Paralympian Richard Colman admits he faces a tough challenge to make the cut for April’s Commonwealth Games.

The 33-year-old champion wheelchair sprinter will compete in the 100m, 400m (tonight) and 1500m (tomorrow) at the Australian Athletics Championships, which double as the selection trials.

Despite the event being the biggest and most important of the summer, Colman’s training this week has had to fit around work, coaching and participating in the Queen’s Baton Relay.

“The 1500m is the Commonwealth Games event, so it’s the main target and what we’ve been working towards,” he said.

But for Colman, the priorities have changed.

He is just as excited by his coaching role as he is by his own chance of success.

“One of my juniors that I coach (Sam Rizzo) will be in the same race,” he said.

“Helping him at nationals will be a great thing, and we’ll see how we can go together as a team.”

Colman isn’t confident of making his third — and likely final — Commonwealth Games team.

“It’s a tough thing to make the Games — even if you get the standard you’re not guaranteed a selection,” he said.

“You’re never confident, but I’m there to have fun and I’ve done everything I can so we’ll see what happens.”

Colman leads a strong group of locals competing in the wheelchair and ambulant events.

Cobden’s Drew Semmens, a triple silver medallist at the Oceania Paralympic Championships, is competing in the 200m, 400m and 800m ambulant, while Jemima Moore, twotime Paralympian, will compete in the 1500m T54 wheelchair.

Colac’s Kirstie Newcombe will take part in the 400m, 800m, and 1500m T38 ambulant.