University of Queensland students set for dash into history books

A strong field of athletes will be out to make history when they line up for the 18th annual University of Queensland Great Court Race on Wednesday, May 15.

The fields for the finals of the 636-metre dash around the sandstone cloisters of the University`s picturesque Great Court were decided after a series of heats held last week. The event is based on the Cambridge University Race, as featured in the film Chariots of Fire.

The challenge for competitors is to finish before the University bell tolls 12 times to be assured of a race record.

Business/Law student Garth Silva, a Queensland state 800m finalist, qualified fastest for the final with a time of 1.32.06 seconds and will be looking to improve on his second placing in 2001.

Silva, who has competed in a number of Telstra A-Series meets in 2002, will have to overcome a hot field including Queensland U/20 1500m champion and second fastest qualifier Danny Russell, and former Denmark Decathlon Champion Anders Black.

Commerce student Robbie Rankin and town planning student Leo Mewing make up the men’s race. The current race record is 1.26.40 set in 1988 by four-time victor Simon Still.

State 1500m champion Katrina Dodds is favourite for the women’s race after a comfortable heat win to qualify fastest in 1.50.26 seconds and will be looking to claim her first victory before graduating at the end of the year.

Trying to catch Dodds will be second fastest qualifier and Law student Christine Groves (1.53.63 seconds) and 2001 runner up Julia Adams (1.55.06 seconds), a Business/Science student.

1999 Denmark Decathlon Champion Anders Black has a testing schedule after also making it through to the final of the inaugural 70m handicapped sprint race, which will be run in conjunction with the Great Court Race.

Black, a key member of UQ’s recent National Club Championship victory, goes in as favourite for the sprint title after sneaking through to the final following a testing Great Court heat run.

The winner of the open men`s and open women`s Great Court Race events will receive $300 cash from UQ SPORT, with trophies and prizes for the minor placegetters and relay teams. Sprint winner’s will receive $100 and prizes.

The Great Court Race festivities will begin at 1pm with the sprint race finals, followed by the men’s and women’s Inter College Relay, then the open women`s final at 1.30pm and the open men`s final at 1.40pm.

Media: for further information, contact Rowan Foster at UQ Sport (telephone 07 3365 6041, mobile 0413 399 169).