First year science student Daina Surka was not lost amongst the prestige of winning the 19th annual University of Queensland Great Court Race held today (Wednesday, May 21).
The rising track star has eyed victory in the time-honoured event since first hearing of the race during her schooling days at Brisbane Girls Grammar.
Ms Surka said despite being a first year student her ambitions to win the Great Court Race were long in the making.
“I heard about the Great Court Race a few years back and it was something I had in mind and aspired to win when I enrolled at The University of Queensland,” Ms Surka said.
The 636-metre one-lap dash around UQ’s Great Court is based on the Cambridge University race, as featured in the film Chariots of Fire.
Ms Surka held off junior rival Sophie Curtis to win the Great Court Race in her maiden attempt in a slick time of 1.46.05.
The 18-year-old, last year’s Queensland Girls Open 800m Champion, finished strongly to overrun pre-race favourite Ms Curtis (1.48.82) and Amber Peckston (1.53.25).
The open women’s record is held by Sandra Dawson who covered the distance in 1.41.68 in 1993.
Leo Mewing, a National U/20 800m finalist, confirmed his potential on the track with an impressive victory in 1.30.30 to edge out 2001 Great Court race winner Stuart Bowden (1.30.66).
The 18-year-old Town Planning student learned from his fourth placing in last year’s race to storm home ahead of Bowden and promising junior Robbie Rankin (1.32.18).
Mewing will represent The University of Queensland at the Australian University Games in Newcastle in September.
The men’s race record is 1.26.40 set in 1988 by four-time winner Simon Still.
The second annual Great Court Handicapped Sprint Race ran over 70m produced a tight result with PhD student Bradley Pease holding off back marker and defending champion Will Caswell.
In the women’s sprint, Business/Science student Muira Taylor defended her 2002 title ahead of first year Law student Lisa Anthony.
For further information contact: Rowan Foster on 07 3365 6041 or 0412 976 972.
