Rugby Sevens makes its debut at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018) today with Australia among the favourites in the women’s competition. And Griffith University will have a keen interest in the action.
Bachelor of Education graduate Shannon Parry is co-captain of the Australian team which opens its account in Pool B with a clash against Wales (5.37pm) before taking on England at 8.17pm. Bachelor of Business student Georgie Friedrichs is also part of the squad playing at Robina Stadium over the weekend.
“It’s the first time that rugby sevens will be held at a Commonwealth Games,” Shannon said. “That’s a great leap forward.
“It’s on home soil and I think it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase Australia to the world and what the Australian sevens teams are about and how entertaining our sport it. It’s a great platform and hopefully we can get the result.”
Also in team sport at the Games, Griffith alumnus Jordyn Holzberger last night helped the Hockeyroos to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Final with a 1-0over India. Australia will face New Zealand at the Gold Coast Hockey Centre tomorrow in their bid for a fourth hockey gold medal in a row.
Bachelor of Business student Matthew Denny (right) will go for a second GC2018 medal at Carrara Stadium tonight in the final of the Men’s Discus (7.45pm).A member of Griffith Sports College, the 21-year-old booked his place yesterday with a seasonal best throw of 64.67m, just behind Jamaicans Fedrick Dacres and Traves Smikle who led qualifying.Matt secured a silver medal in Sunday’s Men’s Hammer Throw.
In the Men’s 4 x 400m Relay today, Griffith graduate Murray Goodwin is part of an Australian four that will have their hands full in a competitive second heat today that also features Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.
Mature-aged Games rookie Murray (left) qualified to compete at GC2018 by winning his first national title at the age of 31 in February. Now a teacher on the Gold Coast, he completed a Bachelor of Secondary Education at Griffith in 2009.
In the boxing ring at Oxenford Studios Bachelor of Public Relations and Communication student Skye Nicolson faces Canadian Sabrina Aubin-Boucher in the Women’s 57kg category with a place in the final up for grabs. The Griffith and Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Scholarship recipient is assured of a bronze medal but will have other colours on her mind from 6.47pm when she takes on a boxing veteran originally inspired by the movie ‘Million Dollar Baby’.
In Diving, Bachelor of Exercise Science student Domonic Bedggood takes to the air in the Men’s Synchronised 10m Platform Final at 11.40am. The Gold Coast local goes into the event as the defending champion having won gold alongside Matthew Mitcham in Glasgow four years ago.Australian and Griffith teammate Teja Wiliamson, contested last night’s Women’s 10m Platform Final after qualifying in eighth place but the Bachelor of Business student finished outside the medals.
In Lawn Bowls, dreams of a second gold medal have come to an end for Bachelor of Business student and Bachelor of Journalism graduate, Kelsey Cottrell, after Australia were edged out 16-15 by Scotland yesterday in a thrilling Women’s Pairs quarter final. It means Team Griffith’s medal tally remains on 29 medals, including 17 gold, four silver and eight bronze.
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.