A strong field of athletes will be out to make history when they line up for the 17th annual University of Queensland Great Court Race on Wednesday, May 23.
The fields for the finals of the 636-metre dash around the sandstone cloisters of the University's picturesque Great Court were decided after a series of heats held last week. The event is based on the Cambridge University Race, as featured in the film Chariots of Fire.
The challenge for competitors is to finish before the University bell tolls 12 times to be assured of a race record.
Fastest qualifier in the men's division was final year Science student Peter Humphreys with a time of 1.30.73. In his last attempt to take the title before graduating, Humphreys will have to beat a hot field including, the Queensland 800m champion and third fastest qualifier Stuart Bowden (1.32.65) and second fastest qualifier, Business/Law student Garth Silva with a heat time of 1.31.37.
The current race record is 1.26.40 set in 1988 by four-time victor Simon Still.
Last year's winner Nikki Egyed, fresh from her first professional international Triathlon win in Noumea, could break the long-standing women's record of 1.41.68 set by five-time winner Sandra Dawson in 1993.
Egyed, a Human Movement studies student and the current Australian University Cross Country Champion, won her first Great Court Race in 1.43.22 last year, and was comfortable in qualifying fastest in 1.48.12.
Trying to catch her will be 1997 titleholder and third place getter in 2000, Kimberley MacIntosh (1.51.07) and, Julia Adams third fastest in a time of 1.52.10.
The winner of the open men's and open women's events will receive a return trip to Melbourne from Ansett Australia and $150 cash from UQ SPORT, with trophies and prizes for the minor placegetters and relay teams.
The Great Court Race festivities will begin at 1pm with the open relay mixed final, followed by the Inter College Relay women's and men's finals, then the open women's final at 1.35pm and the open men's final at 1.45pm.
For more information, contact Nina Wright, telephone 3365 6035 or email NinaW@uqsport.uq.edu.au, or Kerrie Bowen, telephone 3365 6019 or email KerrieB@uqsport.uq.edu.au
