Four more Sydney University athletes were last night officially selected on to the 2016 Australian Olympic Team for the Rio Games.
Michelle Jenneke, Ella Nelson, Anneliese Rubie and Josh Clarke, all of the Sydney Uni Athletics Club (SUAC) and current Elite Athlete Program members, were handed their oversized mock boarding passes after walking through a retired Olympians guard of honour at the Athletics in Australia Gala Dinner held last night at Sydney Olympic Park.
The announcement followed the conclusion of the four day Australian Championships. The highlights reel of the Nationals included Michelle Jenneke’s golden performance with a qualifying result of 12.93 in the 100m hurdles.
“It means so much to me to have won the National title and to book a spot for Rio. I now have one week break then back to hard training. I’ll be preparing in Australia and then looking at some competitions in the US ahead of the Olympics,” said Jenneke.
Ella Nelson joins Jenneke on the list for sprint events after stopping the clock at 22.59, her second fastest ever time for the 200m.
Anneliese Rubie has been selected for the 400m, while Josh Clarke will be the first Australian male sprinter to compete at an Olympic Games in 12 years through his selection in the 100m.
“It’s something that a lot of people wish to be but it hasn’t really sunk in just yet. My family, SUAC and the Elite Athlete Program have helped immensely behind the scenes and so it will be nice to give back to my support crew and perform well in Rio,” said Clarke who balances competition with his commerce degree at Sydney University.
Elite Athlete Program Alumni Madeline Hills has also made the Track & Field squad in the 3000m Steeplechase and Brendon Reading, also of SUAC, received Olympic selection earlier in the year for the 50km walk.
Further selections will be made closer to the commencent of the Games.
SUAC were very well represented at the Nationals meet and other performances outside of official Olympic selection included Angie Ballard taking home another two golds in the 100 and 1500 wheelchair races. Ballard is looking in good shape for Paralympic representation. SUAC Club captain Justin Merlino also shone in only his 2nd race of the season to beat home the NZL athlete Josh Hawkins for the win. Interestingly, the time was the fastest he has run in Sydney and his fourth National title.
More National results below:
Nicola MCDermott (4th High Jump), Liz Clay (7th, 100 hurldes PB of 13.51), Paige Campbell ( 7th in the Steeple), Holly Campbell ( 7th in the 1500m), Jin Su Jung ( 7th in the 100m, 4th Aus), Josh Ralph despite a fall ( 8th in the 800m),Harry Day ( 9th in the High Jump), Isabella Murell ( 10th in the Pole Vault), Hugh Williams (10th in the 500m in a PB),Tavleen Singh ( 10th in the 200m), Larissa Pasternatsky (11th in the 200m, 22nd in the 100m),Melinda Witchard ( 11th in the 1500m), Jarrod Geddes (11th in the 100m) Beth Croft ( 13th in the 1500m in a PB), Kasandra Vegas (14th Hammer in a club record of 49.29), Christian Lozada ( 12th in the 400h)Andries van Woerkom (17th in the Javelin), Gen Cowie ( 12th in the 400h), Courtney Schultz ( 20th in the 400m), Jo Cubis ( 20th in the 800), Alex Pettigrew ( 22nd in the 800), Ruby Hackett ( 19th in the 1500), Hannah Gibbs (46th in the 100m), Em Duve ( 49th in the 100m) and Nick van Gelder (16th in the Long).
