Three gold medals have been added to the Team Griffith haul after an absorbing day three of sport at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018). It brings to 13 the number of medals won by students, staff and alumni of Griffith University during the opening days of GC2018.

A powerhouse performance by alumnus Ashleigh Gentle (above), on the back of a strong showing by Business student Matt Hauser, guided Australia to a magnificent gold in the Mixed Team Triathlon Relay at Southport Broadwater Parklands yesterday.

Ashleigh put the disappointment of Thursday’s individual triathlon behind her to turn the tables on England and put Australia into a near unassailable position going into the anchor leg. In the second leg Matt Hauser had maintained the form that brought him within a place of a medal in the men’s individual event on Thursday.

In the first staging of the Para Triathlon at a Commonwealth Games, Griffith’s Sara Tait finished in sixth place. The Bachelor of Design student, aged 20, was the youngest athlete in a competitive field.

Seventh heaven

Griffith Swim Club’s Emma McKeon (above) secured her seventh Commonwealth Games gold medal at the Optus Aquatic Centre last night after a commanding first-leg swim in the final of the Women’s 4 x 200m Freestyle. The Public Health student, who has now won three golds and a bronze at GC2018, generated the impetus for an outstanding Australian team win with a new Games record.

Griffith’s fourth medal of the day came through Criminology and Criminal Justice student, Stephanie Morton, who backed up gold and gold on the first two nights with silver in the Women’s 500m Time Trial at the Anna Meares Velodrome. She’ll bid for her fourth medal of the Games today when she takes on the Women’s Keirin with the first of the heats starting at 5.32pm.

Another with a medal in his sights today is Bachelor of Science (Advanced Honours) student, Cameron McEvoy (left), who advanced to tonight’s final of the Men’s 100m Freestyle with a strong swim. Cam was the fastest qualifier as he took his place in what promises to be a highly competitive finale.

On another busy day of action in the pool, there were no further medals for Grant Irvine or Shayna Jack. In the Men’s 200m Butterfly Final, Griffith Swim Club’s Grant was in the shake-up right to the end but had to settle for fourth spot. Business student Shayna also touched the wall in fourth after narrowly missing out in a Women’s 50m Freestyle Final won by Cate Campbell.

Personal best

In the semi-finals of the Women’s 50m Butterfly, Madeline Groves — a member of the Griffith Swim Club coached by Michael Bohl – was highly impressive in qualifying for tonight’s final. She recorded a PB in booking her place. Earlier in the day, Georgia Bohl finished fourth in her heat of the Women’s 200m Breaststroke and missed out on the semi-finals.

Elsewhere on day three the Australian Boomers came from behind to defeatNew Zealand in Pool A of the basketball by 79-73 at Cairns Convention Centre. Postgraduate student Jesse Wagstaf had court time as Australia now turn to Nigeria in the third pool game.

The Hockeyroos — with alumnus Jordyn Holzberger on board — made it back to back wins with a 5-0 success over Ghana in Pool B of the hockey.

At Broadbeach Lawn Bowls, Journalism graduate Kelsey Cottrell was again prominent as Australia faced Malaysia not once but twice. Australia had to come from behind to edge out Malaysia 14-13 in round five of Section A before the two sides met again in the knock-out stages. In another close encounter, Australia this time held off Malaysia to reach the last four with a 14-12 win. Business graduate, Jake Fehlberg, played his part in another Australian victory in round three of the Mixed Pairs (vision impaired).

Today at the Games

Bachelor of Software Engineering student Liam Hunter is the first member of Team Griffith to be back in the pool this morning in the heats of the Men’s 50m Breaststroke at 10.52am.

Shayna Jack returns for the heats of the Women’s 100m Freestyle, racing in the same heat as Bronte Campbell at 11.05am. The semi-finals follow tonight. After that it’s the turn of Grant Irvine again as he contests the third of the heats in the Men’s 100m Butterfly, with the semi-finals awaiting tonight.

Following their efforts in the 50m discipline, Leiston Pickett and Georgia Bohl step up to the Women’s 100m Breaststroke. Commerce student Leiston goes in heat two; then Public Health student Georgia in heat three, both attempting to book a place in tonight’s semi-finals.

Next it’s a first GC2018 appearance for two Griffith students who have been waiting in the wings during the first days of competition. Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice student, Jessica Ashwood, and Bachelor of Exercise Science student, Kiah Melverton, both compete in the heats of the Women’s 800m Freestyle with tomorrow’s final in their sights.

Athletics begins

Sunday’s Commonwealth Games itinerary starts at Currumbin Beachfront where Griffith graduate Michael Hosking will be among the athletes lining up for the Men’s 20km Walk Final. Michael, who studied a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education at Griffith, has an early bird 7am start.

In the afternoon, attention then turns to the first day of athletics at Carrara Stadium where Business student Matt Denny will be one of the first athletes in action. The 21-year-old contests the final of the Men’s Hammer Throw, one of two disciplines he will participate in during GC2018.

Around the corner at the Carrara Sports Arena, Andrea Hams (left) is one of 13 medal contenders in the 69kg category of the Weightlifting. Andrea is a previous Commonwealth Games medalist, taking bronze in the 2010 100m hurdles behind Sally Pearson. A physiotherapy lecturer at Griffith’s School of Allied Health Services, Andrea has transitioned to weightlifting since injury cut short her hurdling career. She will be lifting from 9.30am.

Sunday also sees the start of the shooting competition with Business student Paul Adams taking aim on day one of the Skeet Men’s qualification. The 25-year-old will be hoping to build on his sixth-place finish at Glasgow four years ago.

In the lawn bowls competition at Broadbeach, Kelsey Cottrell will be involved as the business end of the Women’s Fours comes around with Australia in semi-final action at 9am. Jake Fehlberg represents his country in the round four of the Mixed Pairs (vision impaired) when Australia play Wales at 5.30pm.

Team Griffith

Current Students: Matthew Hauser (triathlon), Madison de Rozario (wheelchair athletics), Domonic Bedggood (diving), Tejaswinin Williamson (diving), Jesse Wagstaf (basketball), Brandon Wakeling (weightlifting), Stephanie Morton (cycling), Sara Tait (para triathlon), Jessica Ashwood (swimming), Georgia Bohl (swimming), Shayna Jack (swimming), Cameron McEvoy (swimming), Emma McKeon (swimming), Kiah Melverton (swimming), Leiston Pickett (swimming), Zac Stubblety-Cook (swimming), Matthew Denny (athletics), Riley Day (athletics), Liam Hunter (swimming), Skye Nicolson (boxing), John Lane (decathlon), Kelsey Cottrell (lawn bowls), Paul Adams (shooting), Georgina Friedrichs (rugby sevens).

Alumni: Michael Shelley (marathon), Shannon Parry (rugby sevens), Ash Gentle (triathlon), Deborah Acason (weightlifting), Katrin Garfoot (cycling), Chloe Hosking (cycling), Jake Fehlberg (lawn bowls, vision impaired), Tegan Napper (weightlifting), Murray Goodwin (athletics), Jordyn Holzberger (hockey), Sam Seghers (swimming), Michael Hosking (athletics).

Staff: Andrea Hams (weightlifting), Michael Bohl (swimming, coach).

Griffith Swimming Club: Madeline Groves, Grant Irvine, David McKeon.