This year’s historic Great Court Race saw new champions earn a place as The University of Queensland’s fastest athletes.
Based on the Cambridge University Race, as featured in the film Chariots of Fire, the famous annual event sees the swift of foot among UQ students vie for supremacy in a 636-metre dash around the sandstone cloisters of the Great Court at St Lucia campus.
This year the mantle beckoned a new champion in both the men’s and women’s fields, with both 2007 champions completing their studies last year.
UQ Athletics Club member Kate Van Homrigh took out first place in the women’s race with a time of 1.49.85, despite having a season plagued by injury.
The civil engineering and commerce student said she had not been confident going in to the race.
“I only just got back into training five weeks ago after battling shin splints and I didn’t really think I had a chance of placing so I was very happy with my result,” Ms Van Homrigh said.
Kate was followed by Lucy Kennedy at 1.51.40, with Cassandra Brown rounding out the podium in third place.
The men’s final was extremely close, with winner Lee Berry (1.30.90) holding out Robert Mewing (1.31.05) by just 0.15 of a second.
Mr Berry said he was so tired that he had no idea how close he came to being beaten.
“By the end of the race I was exhausted and actually had no idea how close the finish was,” he said.
“It feels really good to have won as my coach warned me that the level of competition for this event is very high, so as a first year student it is a great feeling.”
Alistair Ross finished in third place.
Gerry Collins of the ABC added to the atmosphere of the event, lending his skills on the microphone as event MC.
Serious competition aside, the Great Court Race festivities included several fun events preceding the main race.
Teams from UQ’s residential colleges fought for Inter-College Competition relay honours, comprised of four irregular legs of 145m, 156m 155m and 180m respectively.
This year, The Women’s College and St Leo’s college took first place in their respective relays.
The Great Court Handicapped Sprint Race is similar to the Stawell Gift, with competitors starting from different points according to their abilities.
This year saw Lisa Anthony and Duncan Short as UQ’s newest sprint race champions.
High-resolution images are available from Diana Lilley at The University of Queensland (+61 7 3365 2753, d.lilley@uq.edu.au).
MEDIA: Stephen Danckert (07 3346 7520 or stephend@uqsport.uq.edu.au)
