First 14 athletes in the Australian athletics team for Gold Coast 2018 announced

Commonwealth Games Australia today confirmed the first 14 members of the 111 strong Australian Athletics Team to compete at Gold Coast 2018 (GC2018).

Australian Team Chef de Mission Steve Moneghetti, joined by newly-announced team members; Isis Holt, Jessica Trengove and Lisa Weightman, made the announcement at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, the heart of athletics during Australia’s last home Games in 2006.

“This announcement is very exciting, it’s the first announcement of the year, so it makes the Games feel very real and close,” Moneghetti said.

“Given I have a strong connection with athletics, I feel extremely humble to welcome these 14 athletes onto the Australian Team for Gold Coast 2018.”

Lisa Weightman, bronze medallist at Delhi 2010, has developed into the fastest modern-day female marathoner in Australia, just last year she ran a personal best time at the London Marathon which elevated her to the number three Australian marathoner of all-time.

“I’m on my way to the same physical shape I was in when I ran 2hr25m15s in London earlier this year.  Everything went right in London.  If everything goes right again on the Gold Coast, it will be an exciting race.”

Jessica Trengove, who will compete in her tenth career Marathon at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, talked about how proud she was to be representing Australia on the Gold Coast.

“Some of my most special running memories and friends have been made in the green and gold uniform. I am so honoured and excited to have the opportunity to race for Australia on home soil,” Trengove said. 

At only 16 years old, Isis Holt is likely to be one of Australia’s youngest athletes at the Commonwealth Games.

The dual World Champion from London in T35 100m and 200m events talked about her excitement at being selected for her first Commonwealth Games.

“I’m very excited to be on my first Commonwealth Games team. I’ve been fortunate enough to win a couple of world titles but representing Australia at a Commonwealth Games will be very special,” said Holt.

In his role as the leader of the Australian Team, Moneghetti talked about his history at the last home Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and the crowds that the athletes will run in front of.

“Probably the greatest moment of my life was calling the great Kerryn McCann home in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Marathon,” Moneghetti said,

“The crowds we get at an Australian games is incredible, the support the Athletes will feel running in front of a 35,000-strong home crowd will inspire them to run even stronger.”

All three selected athletes present at the MCG - Trengove, Weightman and Holt - reiterated their passion that it was a home games, with Trengove summing it up best.

“I’ll never forget the buzz in Melbourne during the 2006 Commonwealth Games. I was so inspired watching my Aussie idols compete, such as Craig Mottram and Kerryn McCann.

“I draw a lot of energy and motivation from the people around me so to have the support of family, friends, training partners and other Aussies on course will be very special,” Trengove said.

The 14 selected athletes in the Australian Athletics Team are: 
Liam Adams - Marathon
Erin Cleaver - T38 Long Jump
Cameron Crombie - F38 Shot Put
Madison DeRozario – T54 1500 metres
Chris Hamer - Marathon
Isis Holt - T35 100 metres
Stewart McSweyn - 10,000 metres
Virginia Moloney - Marathon
Evan O’Hanlon - T38 100 metres
Michael Shelley - Marathon
Celia Sullohern - 10,000 metres
Patrick Tiernan - 10,000 metres
Jessica Trengove - Marathon
Lisa Weightman - Marathon 

The remaining athletes in the Australian Athletics Team will be announced in late February 2018.

Tickets for the GC2018 Athletics competition are still available and can be purchased at GC2018.com.