Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness is thrilled to see 14 of our current and former athletes selected as members of the Australian Team for the Commonwealth Games, which are being held in Birmingham, 28 July – 8 August.
Their selection is a source of great satisfaction for all of their support networks, including the Sydney Uni sporting clubs and coaches for whom they have played. Significantly, their selection is also a ringing endorsement of our fantastic Elite Athlete Program (EAP), of which 2 of these athletes are currently members, and a further 10 are alumni.
Stay up-to-date on our athlete’s schedules and results via the below Athlete Tracker.
Nicola Olyslager OLY is a Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry) graduate and recipient of the Jack Pross (AOM) Scholarship. A member of the Sydney University Athletics Club and Australian record holder, Nicola is a strong contender for a podium finish following her 2.02m Silver medal jump in Tokyo last year. The current Commonwealth Games record of 1.96m is on Nicola’s radar ahead of the games, describing the leap as “very achievable”. This will be Olyslager’s second Commonwealth Games after receiving Bronze at the Gold Coast in 2018.
Qualified for the Finals with a clearance jump of 1.81m. However, she tore a muscle in her jumping leg and withdrew from the decider.
Angela (Angie) Ballard is a Bachelor of Science (Honours) graduate and Elite Athlete Program alumna. Previously earning a silver medal in the 1500m T54 on the Gold Coast in 2018, this will mark Angie’s fourth Commonwealth Games.
Claimed Silver in the Women’s 1500m T53/T54.
William Yang is studying a Bachelor of Design in Architecture at the University of Sydney. After competing in the Australian Swimming Championships in Adelaide, Yang clocked a personal best time of 48.55 seconds in the 100m freestyle to claim the title.
Claimed Gold in the 4x100m Mixed Freestyle Relay.
Claimed Gold in the Men’s 4x100m Relay.
Claimed Gold in the Men’s 4x100m Medley.
Nicholas (Nick) Hough OLY is a Bachelor of Information Technology graduate and Elite Athlete Program alumnus. Nick has been pinned as one to watch after winning bronze in 13.38 seconds at the Gold Coast in 2018. This will be Nick’s third Commonwealth Games appearance.
Finished 5th overall in the Men’s 110m Hurdles.
Birmingham marks Sydney University Wrestling Club member, Jayden Lawrence’s third time representing Australia at the Commonwealth Games. Jayden made his Commonwealth Games debut in Glasgow in 2014 in the 74kg division where he lost in the round of 16 to eventual gold medallist Sushil Kumar of India. Four years later in the 86kg division, he again lost in the round of 16 to the eventual gold medallist Muhammad Inam (Pakistan), before losing in the repechage. Jayden is determined to have a podium finish at this years’ Games.
Claimed Bronze in the Men’s Freestyle 86kg wrestling division.
Rohan Browning OLY is a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws student and a current Elite Athlete Program Collins/Peasley scholarship recipient. Rohan had a successful Olympics campaign in Tokyo 2021, running a personal best of 10.01. Compared to his previous Commonwealth games run of 10.26 in 2018, Rohan’s recent form is promising.
Ran 10.10 in the Semi-Finals to qualify for the Final where he finished 6th overall in the Men’s 100m.
Greta Hayes OLY is a member of Sydney University Hockey Club and an alumna of the Elite Athlete Program. Having made her debut for the Hockeyroos at the 2018 Champions Trophy in China, Greta is one of 12 debutantes in the Commonwealth Games Women’s Squad.
Claimed Silver, falling just short to England 2-1 in the Grand Final decider after an undefeated campaign.
Michelle Jenneke is a Bachelor of Engineering graduate and Elite Athlete Program alumna. Michelle is a member of the Sydney University Athletics Club and a three-time Commonwealth Games athlete. On the Gold Coast in 2018, Michelle posted a time of 12.99, falling just short of the podium, coming fourth. Now, after overcoming injury, Michelle is set to make a return to the green and gold.
Finished 7th overall in the Women’s 100m Hurdles.
Angus Armstrong studied a Bachelor of Science while a member of the Sydney University Athletics Club. Following a final appearance at the last Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in 2018, Angus has only reached greater heights. Angus vaulted a personal best of 5.65 in March 2020 before the outbreak of COVID-19. This leap was 15cm shy of fellow Australian Steven Hooker’s Games Record.
Finished 7th overall in the Men’s Pole Vault with a leap of 4.95m.
Jenna Strauch OLY is a Master of Bioethics student based in Queensland. and Elite Athlete Program alumna. Jenna secured her first national title in the 200m breaststroke in 2019. At the 2021 Australian Trials, Strauch recorded a personal best time of 2:23.18 to claim first spot and qualify for the Tokyo Olympics where she placed 9th overall in Women’ 200m Backstroke.
Claimed Silver in the Women’s 200m Breaststroke.
Mackenzie Little OLY is a current Doctor of Medicine student and recipient of the Aleksandra Pozder Scholarship. A member of the Sydney University Athletics Club, in June of 2022, Mackenzie threw a 63.18m to win the Oceania title. All things going to plan, Mackenzie is in a position to be a junior doctor around the same time as the Paris Olympics in 2024.
Claimed Silver with a personal best throw of 64.27m.
Alyssa Polites is a member of the Sydney University Staminade Club. After a winning performance at the Women’s Road Race (U23) in January this year, Alyssa secured a spot in the road racing team for the Commonwealth Games. At just 19 years of age, this will be Alyssa’s first time competing at the Games.
Finished 18th in the Women’s Scratch Race.
Sarah Clifton-Bligh is a Sydney University Athletics Club member and deemed one of Australia’s rising Para-athlete stars. In 2021, Clifton-Bligh was awarded the 2021/22 Kurt Fearnley Scholarship – a joint venture between Commonwealth Games Australia and the Carbine Club NSW, supporting young para-athletes with their journey to the 2022 Birmingham Games. Dabbling in both track and field events, Clifton-Bligh has honed her focus to wheelchair racing in the T33 classification, and in 2021 was ranked number one in the world in the 100m T33 event after clocking a time under 24 seconds. Sarah will make her Commonwealth Games debut in Birmingham.
Finished 5th overall in Para T33/34 100m.
Hannah Dodd has been a member of the Sydney University Flames since 2013. Before basketball, Hannah was a top-ranked Australian equestrian rider who competed in the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Nine years since making the sporting code switch, Hannah is set for her first Commonwealth Games campaign, competing in the Women’s Wheelchair 3×3 Basketball.
Claimed Silver in the Women’s Wheelchair Basketball 3X3.
12:30 – 13:15
Women’s 50m Breaststroke Heats (Jenna Strauch – Finished 5th )
10:20 – 12:30
Men’s 100m Freestyle Heats (William Yang – Finished 5th)
12:30 – 17:00
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball 3×3 Group Match – Scotland v Australia (Hannah Dodd – Defeated 12-5)
19:00 – 22:00
Men’s 100m Freestyle Semi-Finals (William Yang – Finished 3rd)
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Heats (Jenna Strauch – Finished 2nd)
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Final (Jenna Strauch – Finished 2nd and claimed Silver)
Women’s 200m Breaststroke Medal Ceremony (Jenna Strauch – Awarded Silver)
12:30 – 17:30
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball 3×3 v South Africa (Hannah Dodd – Defeated South Africa 21-3)
Women’s Wheelchair Basketball 3×3 Semi-Final v England (Hannah Dodd – Defeated England 8-6)
19:00 – 22:00
Men’s 100m Freestyle Semi Final (William Yang – Finished 3rd)
Men’s 100m Freestyle Final (William Yang – Finished Finished 5th)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Heats (Jenna Strauch – Finished 2nd)
Women’s 100m Breaststroke Semi-Finals (Jenna Strauch – Finished 2nd)
4:00 – 17:30
- Men’s 100m Round 1 (Rohan Browning – Finished 1st)
- Women’s 100m Breaststroke Final (Jenna Strauch – Finished 6th)
- Men’s 110m Hurdles Round 1 (Nick Hough – Finished 5th)
19:00 – 22:00
- Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Heat (William Yang – Finished 1st)
- Men’s 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay Final (William Yang – Finished 1st and claimed Gold)
- Men’s Freestyle Relay Medal Ceremony (William Yang – Claimed Gold)
18:30 – 22:00
- Men’s 100m Semi Finals (Rohan Browning – Finished 2nd)
- Men’s 100m Final (Rohan Browning – Finished 6th)
3:30 – 13:00
Men’s 110m Hurdles Final (Nick Hough – Finished 7th)
18:30 – 22:00
Women’s 1500m T53 / T54 Final (Angie Ballard – Finished 2nd, claimed Silver)
Women’s 1500m T53 / T54 Medal Ceremony (Angie Ballard – Awarded Silver)
3:00 – 15:00
- Women’s 100m Hurdles Round 1 (Michelle Jenneke – Finished 7th overall)
19:30-23:30
Men’s Freestyle 86kg – Medal contest (Jayden Lawrence)
Men’s Freestyle 86kg – Medal Ceremony (Jayden Lawrence – Awarded Bronze)
10:00 – 13:15
Women’s High Jump Final (Nicola Olyslager – Qualified for Finals with a 1.81m clearance in the Semi Finals. Withdrew due to injury)
18:30 – 21:45
Men’s Pole Vault (Angus Armstrong – Finished 7th with a leap of 4.95m).
10:00 – 13:15
- Women’s Javelin Throw Final (Mackenzie Little – Finished 2nd with a PB throw of 64.27m, claimed Silver)
18:30 – 3:30
- Women’s Javelin Throw Medal Ceremony (Mackenzie Little – Awarded Silver)
Schedule is subject to change. All times listed are in British Summer Time (BST), +9hr for AEST.
