With three golds and another silver medal added to the Team Griffith medal tally at Saturday’s close, it will be all eyes on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Marathon as the sun rises on the final day of competition on Sunday.
As the presenting partner of the GC2018 Marathon, it is an extra special day for Griffith University which will have more than a passing interest in the respective races for gold early on Sunday morning.
Defending marathon gold medalist Michael Shelley is a Bachelor of Business graduate from Griffith, while Madison de Rozario — a contender in the Women’s T54 (Wheelchair) Marathon – is a current business student. A medal for either — or both – would crown a remarkable Games for athletes from the Griffith University community which was further enhanced on Saturday with three memorable winning performances.
In boxing, Gold Coast local Skye Nicolson claimed gold in the Women’s 57kg category by defeating Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh with a split decision triumph at Oxenford Studios. The Bachelor of Public Relations and Communication student held her nerve under significant pressure to edge it over a distraught opponent.
Then later, Bachelor of Exercise Science student Domonic Bedggood was superb in resisting English contender, Matthew Dixon, to make his mark as an individual diver and take out the 10m Platform competition. Dom had picked up two bronze medals in the synchronised events leading up to Saturday’s decider.
Earlier on Saturday Bachelor of Communication graduate Chloe Hosking won gold when she was the beneficiary of a brilliant Australian team performance in the Women’s Road Race. Among the team members who created the platform for Chloe to strike for gold was Katrin Garfoot, a Griffith graduate, who won gold earlier in the week in the Individual Time Trial.
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Another alumnus, Jordyn Holzberger, had to settle for silver as the Hockeyroos were overwhelmed by New Zealand in the women’s hockey final.
In athletics, on the final day at Carrara Stadium, there was heartbreak for Bachelor of Nursing student Riley Day who ran in the Women’s 4 x 100m for Australia. Riley ran a strong bend for the third leg only for anchor Melissa Breen to end up on the track as the handover moment arrived. It emerged later that the Australian team had been disqualified.
Master of Financial Planning student Jesse Wagstaf will line out with the Boomers in the final of the Men’s Basketball on Sunday when Australia take on Canada in the decider (11.30am). The Boomers eased past Scotland in the semi-final on Saturday with a 103-46 win.
Also going for gold for Australia on Sunday will be Bachelor of Education graduate, Shannon Parry, and Bachelor of Business student, Georgina Friedrichs, in the Women’s Rugby Sevens. Australia completed their Pool B games on Saturday night with a 17-10 win over Fiji and will next face Canada in Sunday’s semi-final. The victory also marked Georgina’s 23rd birthday.