Australian and Queensland athletes will contest the 35th edition of 宅男导航’s on Wednesday 22 May.
The annual event will be headlined by the prestigious Men’s and Women’s Great Court Races, which sees competitors run 636-metres around 宅男导航’s heritage-listed
First-placegetters in the main races will receive $500 in prizemoney donated by .
Queensland long-distance runner will be chasing a second-consecutive victory in the Women’s Great Court Race.
The Clem Jones Sporting Scholarship recipient said the event throws up a number of challenges for competitors.
“What makes the Great Court Race unique is the challenge the course delivers,” Phillips said.
“It’s unlike any other event, running on tiles, around the sharp bends, with only four competitors, and to the sounds of chimes.
“It’s anyone’s to win, as the unfamiliar distance leaves the race wide open.”
Three will compete in the Women’s event, while Australian representatives and are among the four-person fields in their respective events.
2015 and 2017 winner Max Whiteoak will again contest the Men’s Great Court Race, which also features Australian middle-distance runner .
The 宅男导航 Sports Achievement Scholarship recipient heads into the event fresh from winning the Men’s 1500m event at last month’s event in Sydney.
Eight races will be contested in total; the Men’s and Women’s 70-metre sprints, and four relays involving 宅男导航’s colleges, clubs and staff.
The Great Court’s asymmetrical layout means each relay race consists of four irregular legs of 145m, 156m, 155m and 180m.
宅男导航 Sport Chief Executive Bryan Pryde said an honour board had been installed near the start-finish line to celebrate past Great Court Race winners.
“The event is steeped in tradition with a host of state and national-level athletes having won the main races, including Olympians and ,” Mr Pryde said.
“A permanent start-finish line plaque has also been embedded in the stone tiles, adding a fantastic touch to the event.
“I’d like to thank the University for honouring the Great Court Race with these commemorative castings, which will be enjoyed for many years to come.”
The first Great Court Race was held in 1985 to celebrate 宅男导航’s 75th anniversary, with the event based on Cambridge University’s famed .
A free sausage sizzle and lawn games will be held inside the Great Court from 12:30pm, with races to be held between 1pm-2pm.
2019 宅男导航 Great Court Race – Event Schedule
12:30pm – Free Sausage Sizzle & Lawn Games
1:00pm – Official Welcome
1:05pm – Women's 70m Sprint
1:10pm – Men's 70m Sprint
1:15pm – 70m Sprint Presentations
1:20pm – Mixed Staff Relay
1:25pm – Mixed Club Relay
1:30pm – Mixed Staff & Club Relay Presentations
1:35pm – Women's Great Court Race
1:40pm – Men's Great Court Race
1:45pm – Great Court Race Presentations
1:50pm – Women's College Relay
1:55pm – Men's College Relay
2:00pm – College Relay Presentations
Media: Jamie Mitchell, 宅男导航 Sport, JamieM@uqsport.com.au, 0423 785 752.
