COMMONWEALTH GAMES THREE YEARS TO GO JONES PROMISES
City’s future stars aim high Sara flags support for countdown
THEY’RE the future.
These are the local kids with big dreams to compete in the 2018 Commonwealth Games on their home soil.
Caitlin Mcquilkin-Bell, 17, has dipped her toes in success with the steeplechase, winning at Nationals last year but the Griffith University student vows she won’t stop there.
“I’m definitely aiming towards the Commonwealth Games,” she said. “It’s so exciting that I can potentially qualify and it’s going to be in my home town. It’s a big goal I’m working towards.”
All Saints student Jace Grant, 15, had stars in his eyes when asked about qualifying for the Games in the triathlon, in which he has a handful of gold medals from state finals.
“It’s never going to be on the Gold Coast again and that excites me. I just can’t wait to
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of the be here for it and if I can be in it that will be even better.”
School Sport South Coast officer Julie Henderson said she had no doubt its elite sporting program harboured future Games competitors.
“The talent is incredible,” she said. “I am optimistic that we’ve got plenty of Commonwealth Games athletes coming through.” TIME is flying by for former Olympic champion cyclist Sara Carrigan.
“It seems like just last year that we were in St Kitts and Nevis (for the announcement of the 2018 Commonwealth Games host city),” she said.
“But it has been four years and now we are just three years out from the Games itself.”
Carrigan, who is 31-weeks pregnant, is one of several athletes heading to the three-year countdown party at Kurrawa Park at Broadbeach this morning and she urged Gold Coasters to get involved.
“Things are getting more and more real,” she said.
Carrigan said thanks to community events like the one being put on today, young Gold Coast athletes were getting the message that they had a chance of competing here for their country.
“I get so excited for the kids who grow up here,” she said.
The Games event is on at 9am-noon.