One Perfect Day in China | World University Games

The Australian Uniroos have had the perfect start to the 2023 World University Games, with nine of nine track and field athletes advancing from round one of their respective events.

Triple jumper Connor Murphy (Andrew Murphy, University of Sydney) led the way for the burgeoning group, landing a mark of 16.47m (+0.7) in the pit to record his second furthest jump of all time. Relishing the opportunity to wear the green and gold, Murphy made an impression from the start with his first attempt enough to secure his spot in the final.

The talented engineering and science student made a quick decision to pass his final two attempts, and finished second in his qualifying group and fourth overall.

“Qualifying to me is all business. I’m stoked to have gone out and executed a solid jump first round. The atmosphere was electric and the track felt on fire,” Murphy said.

“All four of us jumpers really handled business well today. I’ve got the Final next and that’s where the fun starts.”

Like his compatriot, Hinson took a major leap in his first attempt, recording 16.07m (+0.8) for his tenth best jump of all time as he made his Australian team debut. 

While he was unable to replicate his success, recording a foul on his second attempt, the jump was enough to lock in his place in the final, and finished in sixth place overall in the qualifying rounds.

As Murphy and Hinson lead the way for the next generation of Australian triple jumpers, Annie McGuire (Griffith University) and Alyssa Lowe (Alex Stewart and Nicole Boegman-Stewart, University of Sydney) replicated similar success in the Women’s Long Jump with the pair both advancing to the final.

At her first major championships, McGuire qualified fourth overall amongst the 39-strong field, landing at 6.20m (+0.9) on her second attempt. Although the Psychological Science student began her campaign with a foul, her attempt of 6.20 on her second round was enough to see her advance, with the majority of her qualifying group, just as Lowe’s second round attempt of 6.15 (+0.3) saw her sneak into the final in seventh.

The Australian action rolled on at Shuangliu Stadium, with a quartet of Australian sprinters storming through the finish line to advance to their respective semi finals.

Reece Holder (Sharon Dale, Queensland University of Technology) was the fastest quarter miler of a field of 44, when stopping the clock at 46.10 in Heat 1. In the fastest of all heats, the Australian finished 0.22 seconds ahead of second-place getter Umar Bin Osman (MAS, 46.33) putting him in good stead to land a spot in the final after today’s semi.

World Under 20 Championships representative Samantha Geddes (John Nicolosi, Deakin University) was the seventh fastest sprinter over seven Women’s 100m heats, advancing with a time of 11.54 (0.0).  Drawn in the seventh and final heat, Geddes knew a top-three result or a time near 11.47 her personal best was the only way to advance and stormed down the straight to cross the line third.

Joshua Azzopardi (Rob Marks, ACPE) was the fastest of two Australian 100m sprinters, crossing the line second in 10.50 (-1.2) in Heat 2 to secure the Big Q. Countryman Christopher Ius (Andrew Murphy, University of Sydney) also finished with an automatic qualifier for the semi final, when running 10.63 into a strong 2.0 headwind to finish his Heat 8 in second.

Following in the footsteps of his sister Olympic steeplechaser Amy Cashin, Liam Cashin (Peter Burke, Victoria University) cruised through Heat 2 of the 3000m Steeplechase in 8:59.90. In a hotly contested heat, it was the Australian that prevailed against China’s Fudong Wang (9:00.24) to achieve his first victory at the Games, as he finished second overall in a series of two heats.

The World University Games continues today, with the Australian action beginning at 9am local time. Fans can watch along at www.fisu.tv

By Sascha Ryner, Athletics Australia
Posted: 2/8/2023