NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN THE PARTY
As Australia gets ready to name its Commonwealth Games team tomorrow, tickets are still available for some of the blue riband events at Carrara Stadium, including the men’s and women’s 100m finals, the hammer throw final and Sally Pearson’s hurdles heat
SALLY Pearson, Riley Day, Trae Williams, Matt Denny.
They’re just some of the names that produced outstanding performances at the national track and field titles at Carrara over the weekend and will be in action at the Commonwealth Games in just over six weeks’ time.
Australia will officially name its 111member team for the Games tomorrow after selectors agonised over the makeup of the team.
And fans have the chance to see their heroes in action, with tickets to most sessions at Carrara Stadium still available.
Those include Pearson’s 100m hurdles heat session on April 12; Day’s 200m heats and semi-final on April 10 and 11; and the April 9 super final session that will have Denny in the hammer and the men’s and women’s 100m sprint finals, likely to feature Williams. Brisbane’s Williams, known as “Quadzilla”, ran an amazing 10.10sec in the final of the 100m at the national titles to earn his Games spot and is expected to line up in an outstanding sprint final that could feature Rio Olympic medallist Andre de Grasse, former world record-holder Asafa Powell and former world champion Yohan Blake.
Day won the sprint double at the national titles, sealing her place in the Games team with an A qualifier in the 200m and becoming Athletics Australia’s inaugural Betty Cuthbert medallist with her performances.
Pearson’s finals session is sold out, with fans desperate to watch the world and Olympic champion in action at a home Games. But there remains a chance to see her, with tickets to a heats session that will also showcase Denny in the discus preliminaries and a women’s 800m semi-final that could feature Australia’s Brittany McGowan.
Australian chef de mission and 1994 Games marathon gold medallist Steve Moneghetti urged fans to attend.
“I think that’s the takeaway (from the national titles). We’ve got quality and
YOU’VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO A LOT OF NEW ATHLETES THAT ARE GOING TO DO EXCITING STUFF, WHY WOULDN’T YOU WANT TO BE THERE? STEVE MONEGHETTI
depth and great performances,” Moneghetti said.
“You’ve been introduced to a lot of new athletes that are going to do exciting stuff, why wouldn’t you want to be there?
“And I know the athletes are going to get a lift from having that crowd support.
“The atmosphere out there could be unbelievable.”
The Mayor of the Games Village at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in 2006, Moneghetti recalled the lift athletes got performing at a packed MCG.
“The athletes really thrived in that environment,” he said. “I think people (should get to the Games). Ticket sales have been good but they’ll be great now.”