What events to look forward to at GC2018

Runners will chase records, throwers will display unbelievable power, jumpers will reach dizzying heights and multi-eventers will do the lot. It’ll all be happening in 200 days when the athletics competition kicks off at Carrara Stadium for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Featuring eight days of fast-paced, exhilarating athletics action, great tickets are still available to preliminary and super final sessions.

With thanks to GC2018, let’s have a look at what spectators can look forward to seeing live when the Games come to Australia. The following sessions still have tickets available.

See speed, strength and skill on Monday, 9 April

In the morning session (AT0901), take your seats for the exciting preliminary rounds. Every athlete will need to be firing in the heats to progress. Events include the men’s 110m hurdles, high jump and T54 1500m, as well as the first three events of the decathlon: 100m, long jump and shot put.

Jamaican world and Olympic hurdles champion Omar McLeod, Canadian Olympic high jump champion Derek Drouin as well as GC2018 Ambassador and wheelchair racing legend Kurt Fearnley are expected to be in action.

The women’s 400m athletes will be pursuing a place in the semi-finals, with Bahamas sensation and Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo expected to start her Games campaign in this session, while the women’s T54 1500m and the hammer throw competitions will also commence.

In the evening (AT0902), jump straight into the first super final of the competition. Witness some of the fastest athletes on the planet in the women’s and men’s 100m finals and men’s T38 100m final, and see the endurance of the elite as athletes compete for a place on the podium in the women’s 10,000m final.

Try to keep your eyes on Jamaica, South Africa, England, Canada and the Bahamas as they sprint towards the 100m title. If selected, T38 world champion, Australia’s Evan O’Hanlon will be tough to beat in the 100m final. South African Paralympic 400m champion Dyan Buis has dropped back to the 100m for GC2018 and will challenge the Australian.   

The men’s shot put and hammer throw finals will be on show on the field, as well as the women’s F46 javelin throw final. With the women’s triple jump and 1500m preliminaries, the men’s decathlon high jump and 400m events and men’s 400m semi-final also on the program, the first super final will be full of spectacular athletic achievements.

The men’s shot put is shaping as a trans-tasman battle with New Zealand’s world champion Tom Walsh and Australian record holder Damien Birkinhead looking to build on a fantastic 2017. The cut-throat 1500m and 400m preliminaries will be sure to bring some upsets on the track.

Witness athletes' dreams become reality on Tuesday, 10 April

The preliminary rounds continue in the morning session (AT1001), with huge names of the sport set to race in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles and 200m, plus other popular track and field events including the men’s long jump and 800m preliminaries. The men’s decathlon athletes will take on the 110m hurdles, discus throw and pole vault and the women’s discus throw will also be on the field.

Australian Dani Stevens, fresh from her world championship silver medal, will be looking to defend her Commonwealth title in the discus throw. Jamaica’s Ristananna Tracey is the favourite set to be in pursuit of gold following her bronze medal and personal best 400m hurdles at the IAAF World Championships London 2017.

More medals will be awarded in the evening finals session (AT1002), including the women’s 1500m, triple jump, hammer throw and T54 1500m finals. The women’s 400m semi-finals will also take place.

Highly anticipated finals events will include the men’s 400m, 110m hurdles and T54 1500m, while the most all-round athlete in the Commonwealth will be crowned with the javelin and 1500m concluding the gruelling decathlon.

England’s Sophie Hitchun will be looking for her first Commonwealth hammer throw title. Reigning champion Angela Ballard could be competing to retain her title in the T54 1500m and Jamaica will be eager for a repeat of 2014’s all-Jamaica podium in the women’s 400m. Can McLeod add the one outdoor title missing from his cabinet and can Fearnley go out a winner on the track?

Watch extraordinary distances achieved on Wednesday, 11 April

Wednesday’s evening session features more finals action (AT1101) across 14 great events, including the women’s 400m, 3000m steeplechase, T35 100m and javelin throw, and the men’s high jump, long jump and F38 shot put. Athletes will compete to secure a place in the men’s and women’s 200m and 400m hurdles finals and the men will also line-up for the 800m semifinals, while the women’s 800m and long jump preliminaries round out an exciting day on the field and track.

South African world champion Luvo Manyonga has set himself the challenge to break nine metres in 2018, and it could happen in the men’s long jump final. Australia’s Genevieve LaCaze who will be looking to cause an upset over the Kenyan team in the challenging steeple chase.

Take part in track and field triumphs on Thursday, 12 April

Thursday’s morning session (AT1201)features the women’s preliminaries in the 100m hurdles, high jump and shot put. GC2018 ambassador and world champion Sally Pearson will start her attempt to win a third straight Commonwealth title.

The heptathletes will start their campaigns with the 100m hurdles and high jump events. The Commonwealth’s best will also be looking to secure their finals berth in the women’s 800m semifinal.

In the men’s events, you’ll see high energy preliminary action with the T12 100m event, triple jump and discus throw.

Another super final (AT1202) will take over Carrara Stadium under lights with athletes chasing medals in 10 finals including the men’s and women’s 200m, women’s long jump and discus throw, and the men’s 800m, T12 100m and pole vault.

Commonweath records could be challenged in the men’s and women’s 400m hurdles finals. The women’s heptathlon will also continue with the shot put and 200m events and England’s Paralympic and World Champion Sophie Hahn should start favourite for the women’s T38 100m.

Wayde van Niekerk could be on his way to his first Commonwealth gold in the 200m against a tough field which could include Olympic silver medallist, Canada’s Andre De Grasse. Both athletes are looking to compete in individual and relay events at GC2018.

Australian long jumper Brooke Stratton is looking to make the podium after being a finalist at the 2017 world championships and 2016 Olympics.

Can an Australian upstage the might of Kenya in the men’s 800m? World record holder David Rudisha and world championship medallist Kipyegon Bett will be the early favourites.

See four times the talent on Friday, 13 April

On the penultimate day of athletics competition at Carrara Stadium (AT1301), spectators will witness championship teamwork in motion as the men’s and women’s 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams compete for a spot in the finals in the morning session.

Javelins will soar through the air seeking record-breaking distances in the men’s preliminaries, and the Commonwealth’s strong middle distance runners will be back on the track to pursue a 1500m finals berth.

The heptathletes will return, looking to attempt to leap as far as possible in the long jump and secure winning distances in the javelin throw.

Beyond Cararra Stadium, the athletics competition also includes the marathon and race walk events. Race walkers will take to the streets on Sunday, 8 April, while the marathon event will occur on the last day of GC2018 Sunday, 15 April. Save the date to see some of the world’s best endurance athletes in these free, non-ticketed events.

With the athletics a popular part of the program, GC2018 is the biggest event the Gold Coast has ever seen. To be part of all the athletics action and witness history in the making, visit our tickets page.