A drama-charged final looms for the annual University of Queensland Great Court Race being run today, Wednesday, May 21.
Less than a second separates the fastest three qualifiers in the men’s and women’s races for the 19th annual event, based on the Cambridge University Race, as featured in the film Chariots of Fire.
Competitors will dash 636 metres around the sandstone cloisters of the University’s Great Court to try and break the open men’s record of 1 minute 26.40 seconds set in 1991 by Simon Still and the open women’s record of 1.41.68 set in 1993 by Sandra Dawson.
Medicine student Tom Dover is favourite for the men’s title, but will face tough competition from promising juniors Robbie Rankin and Leo Mewing.
The women’s race shapes as a tight battle between three rising stars of the track. Science student Sophie Curtis, second at this year’s U/20 state 1500m, qualified fastest and will be tested by GPS girls champion Daina Surka and U/20 state 3000m champion Amber Peckston.
The event will begin with the Great Court Handicapped Sprint Race at 1pm, followed by finals of relay events.
The open women’s final begins at 1.30pm and the open men’s event at 1.40pm.
Note to news/pictorial editors: Media parking will be available beyond the boom gate at Mansfield Place (adjacent to the Great Court).
For more information, contact Rowan Foster of UQ SPORT, telephone 3365 6041 or
0421 976 972.
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