LOCALS’ BOLD GAMES BID

GEELONG teenage sprint sensation Mia Gross took a step closer to Commonwealth Games selection last night with a blistering run in the 100m heats at the national selection trials.

Gross and local Christian Davis both posted world junior championships qualifying times, firming their Commonwealth Games bid in the process, at the Australian Athletics Championships meet on the Gold Coast.

Davis went hard early in a huge run in his 400m heat, easing up towards the line to stop the clock in a personalbest 46.82 seconds.

The Chilwell Athletics Club runner had the race at his mercy turning into the home straight, blowing away his competitors to easily qualify for tonight’s final.

Gross fought off an early challenge from New Zealander Abby Goldie, striding away late to win her heat comfortably in 11.79 seconds.

The 16-year-old sprinting sensation qualified third-fastest from the heats and will compete in the 100m semifinal tonight, potentially facing off against Australian champion Melissa Breen and rising star Riley Day, who was the fastest qualifier with a run of 11.76 seconds, while New Zealander Zoe Hibbs was next best with 11.77.

It makes Gross the secondfastest Australian qualifier, with Breen running a 11.86 heat.

Davis was the fastest qualifier from the four 400m heats, with Queenslander Murray Goodwin the next best with a 46.84. He is looking to lock down a relay position.

Gross is in a preliminary squad of seven for the Australian 4x100m relay team at the Commonwealth Games, giving her hope of making her Games debut in April.

Other members of the squad include Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson and Breen.

“I’m in the gold squad which is the top seven female athletes out of everyone in Australia, so I’ve been pretty lucky to get selected in that,” said Gross, who is also competing in the 200m tomorrow.

“If I don’t perform well I won’t be selected, but if I do pull out something awesome then hopefully I do have a chance to be selected.”

“When I tell people that I’m only 16 years old their mouth kind of drops.”

Pictures: Getty Images, AAP FLYERS: Geelong runners Mia Gross (100m) and Christian Davis (400m, inset) win their heats at the Commonwealth Games trials last night.