Medals could come for region’s athletes
THE Commonwealth Games are little more than six months away and it got me thinking about who from the Darling Downs could be off to compete at the Gold Coast.
The huge mult-sport event runs from April 4-15 so it will be here in no time.
In looking at who from the region could compete at the home Commonwealth Games, some big medal hopes came to mind.
Rugby sevens is a Commonwealth Games sport so Australia is a big chance of winning a medal.
Emilee Cherry has already won an Olympic Games gold medal and she is joined by Dominque du Toit, Demi Hayes and Georgie Friedrichs in the Australian women’s squad.
That means there could be multiple Darling Downs representatives in a team that has big claims on the gold medal.
Another team that will be one of the favourites at the Gold Coast is the Diamonds in netball.
This is not a definite selection but Laura Geitz could force her way into the Comm Games squad after a break from the game.
Geitz sat out this season due to the birth of her son but has announced a comeback to the Queensland Firebirds.
The former national captain could push for selection in the Diamonds squad again in the lead-up to the Games but she would want some game time to be considered.
Fellow Allora talent Matthew Denny is also an ambassador for the Commonwealth Games athletics program and he could rise to the occasion.
Denny had a testing season and was fatigued while trying to qualify for the world championships.
The thrower pulled the pin on that goal in favour of refreshing ahead of the Commonwealth Games build up, so he could be primed for a big performance at the Gold Coast.
His training partner Lara Nielsen is also coming off finishing sixth in women’s hammer throw at the World University Games in Taipei.
The World University Games are up there with the likes of the Commonwealth Games in competitive standing so that could bode well for Nielsen pushing for a medal on the coast.
It remains to be seen how many athletes from the Downs make Australia’s team for the Gold Coast but there are certainly some big medal chances from our region.