Murray’s relay bid
HE was the feel-good story of the national championships – a 31-year-old maiden title winner clinging to his dream of competing at the Commonwealth Games in his home city.
But Murray Goodwin faced a sleepless night last night with his fate in the hands of national selectors.
Goodwin, a teacher at Varsity College, won the 400m on Saturday to clinch a maiden national championship.
But with his time 0.24sec short of a B qualifier, Goodwin failed to seal automatic qualification and must rely on the selectors deciding to nominate 400m specialists for the relay.
Selectors were locked behind closed doors last night debating the final make-up of the 111-member track and field team for the Games.
With 57 able-bodied athletes having qualified over the weekend, and 23 spots preserved for para-athletes, selectors were set to wrestle over who would claim the other 31 spots on the team.
London Olympic finalist Steve Solomon is set to be named to run the 400m after achieving an A qualifier but selectors have not committed to naming relay specialists, leaving Goodwin in limbo.
The 2015 Stawell Gift winner’s coach, Currumbin Vikings mentor Brett Robinson, launched a plea.
“We understand the quota system, we understand the pressures the selectors are under, but there’s a lot of guys that are close to the A and B standard that would make up a good relay,” Robinson said.
“They do have to pick Steve Solomon who has an A qualifier and he’s going to need three people to run with (in the relay).
“At the Commonwealth Games it’d be a shame to just do a makeshift team of people from all other events that don’t specialise in the 4x400m.”
While disappointed to miss the qualifying mark, Goodwin said he was hopeful.
“At the start of this season there was a bit of talk that the 4x400m boys need to up their game and since then we’ve had nearly eight boys go sub-47,” he said.
“You put a baton in our hands and we’ll make the final for you for sure.”
Athletics Australia chairman of selectors Dion Russell wouldn’t guarantee picking a specialist 4x400m team.
“Some relay teams are probably stronger than others, I think that’s pretty obvious,” Russell said.