GREEN AND GOLD
Masters champ Garcia and Aussie track stars locked in
REIGNING US Masters champion Sergio Garcia and the stars of Australian athletics are bound for the Gold Coast in the latest boost to the city’s $500 million-a-year sports economy. Garcia, who slipped into a famous green jacket at Augusta in April, has been confirmed for the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort in November and December. In February, Commonwealth Games hopefuls including sprinter Ella Nelson will gather at Carrara Stadium for the 2018 Australian Athletics Championships.
AUSTRALIA’S best track and field athletes will put on a full dress rehearsal six weeks before next year’s Commonwealth Games when the national championships are held at Carrara.
The meet, to be held on February 15-18, will be D-day for champions such as Sally Pearson looking to fully qualify for the Games.
While the window for Games qualifying times has opened, finishing in the top two at the nationals is essential for automatic selection.
Hurdler Pearson said she was excited about having the Australian titles in her backyard as she looks to defend her Commonwealth crown.
“It’s fantastic to hear that the nationals will be held on the Gold Coast next year,” Pearson said. “There’s no better place to prepare for a home Commonwealth Games than at the venue in which we will compete for gold, so to have an important championship like this confirmed as a test for the stadium is great.
THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE TO PREPARE FOR A HOME COMMONWEALTH GAMES THAN AT THE VENUE. SALLY PEARSON
“Every time I speak about the Commonwealth Games I am amazed by how fast it is approaching.
“It’s exciting to see the world preparing to come to my home town and, once we’ve finished competing at London 2017, all roads will lead to Gold Coast 2018.”
Commonwealth Games and Tourism Minister Kate Jones yesterday announced the nationals would be held on the Gold Coast.
“The Australian Athletics Championships will be the perfect warm-up event for the Commonwealth Games, not only for the athletes but for the world-class facilities at Carrara,” Ms Jones said.
“The Commonwealth Games will be the biggest event in Queensland this decade and the excitement on the Gold Coast is already building, especially around the track and field, so to stage the Australian titles at Carrara is a real coup.”
The nationals will be held just two weeks before the swimming trials at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre.
The government’s infrastructure spend will benefit junior athletes as well, with Athletics Australia announcing yesterday the national Little Athletics championships would be held on the Gold Coast two weeks after the Games.