BEING BETTY

Our latest track star’s bid to follow in great’s footsteps

RILEY Day has scooped the medal bearing Betty Cuthbert’s name – now the athletics prodigy hopes to match the sprint great’s global success.

Day was named the inaugural Betty Cuthbert medallist at a gala dinner on the Gold Coast on Sunday following her outstanding performances at the national track and field titles at Carrara Stadium.

Day not only won the sprint double but won the 200m in a time that pushed her to No. 3 on Australia’s all time junior rankings, sealing her Commonwealth Games spot and the medal.

“I honestly didn’t expect it at all,” Day said of winning the medal named in honour of Olympic great Cuthbert, who died last year.

“I knew there were such great performances on the weekend but ... I can’t even explain the feeling that I felt when I was announced.

“It was one of the greatest achievements of my athletics career so far.”

Cuthbert won three gold at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics as an 18-year-old – the same age Day will turn just days out from the opening ceremony of the Gold Coast Games.

“She was a fellow sprinter, so that makes it even more special and close to my heart,” Day said of her medal win.

“Hopefully I can follow in her career which was an awesome one. I’d be honoured to follow in her footsteps of what she (achieved).”

Day will postpone celebrations for her 18th birthday, a small sacrifice given the circumstances.

“I was like, ‘oh damn (when I realised the clash)’,” she said.

“But not many 18-year-olds can celebrate their birthdays in the Commonwealth Games.”

Other adjustments will have to be made, including possibly deferring her nursing studies at Griffith University.

“I have a lot of decisions to make in the next few weeks,” Day said. “Whatever decision will be made for the better for me.”

Day had an early taste of donning the green and gold yesterday when she had a uniform fitting at Trinity Lutheran College.