Following a six-year hiatus the 2016 Australian University Games returned to the West Australian city of Perth. A small yet strong Melbourne team of 13 student-athletes including World Junior Representatives Isaac Hockey (1500m) and Kathryn Brooks (Javelin) headlined a big week of track and field competition at WA Athletics Stadium.

The University brought home four gold, five silver, and three bronze medals over the four days of competition. This placed both the men’s and women’s teams in third, with the University finishing third overall in athletics.

World Junior Championships representative and team captain Isaac Hockey had a successful university games debut with silver medals in the 1500m (3:57.33) and 5000m (15:10.94). When asked to reflect on the games Hockey said that “it was a rare chance to mingle with athletes on a personal level rather than merely as my rival. University Games confirmed my love for this great sport. Athletically, this week marks the start of my build up to the 2016/17 season!”

Kathryn Brooks, also a World Junior Championships representative had a positive return to competition following recent knee surgery. Placing second in the women’s javelin, Brooks threw 43.17m from a standing throw.

University Team Captain Isabelle Napier claimed a third straight gold medal in the women’s pole vault with a clearance of 3.30m. “Estatic to represent the University for a third time,” Napier also took home a bronze medal in the 5km walk. “It was wonderful to be able to lead a team that I have been a part of for three years. I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts on the track.”

Competing at his fourth university games Tristan Robinson won gold in the men’s 400m (48.63). Tristan was also a member of the men’s 4x100m, 4x400m and medley relay teams.

Lizzie Hedding had a stella week producing a high jump PB and heptathlon 100m hurdles PB to take home the bronze medal in the women’s heptathlon. Hedding backed up this result later in the week with a gold medal in the women’s long jump (6.05m). Like Robinson, Hedding ran in all three relay teams.

MUAC club member Max Ueda had a successful first games competing in numerous track and field events including 10,000m (33:27.35), 5000m (15:41.76), 3000mS (10:12.98), 800m (2:12.30), hammer throw and the men’s medley relay. Ueda said “​the week has been filled with moments that I cherish, including the whole team singing happy birthday when I turned 23”.

First year student Christian Paynter relished “the ​opportunity to get out and compete with the decathlon boys of the country”. Competing in the men’s decathlon, Paynter brought home a silver medal with a score of 6082 points. During the week he also participated in the men’s medley and 4x400m relay teams.

Injured 3000m steeplechase runner Amy McCormick dabbled in the field events in Perth, competing in the shot put and javelin. “Although unable to compete to the best of my ability, the fun, support and team atmosphere made it a superb week.”

First year student Jess O’Keefe made her position in the team known, competing in triple jump (8.64m), shot put (6.73m), long jump (4.20m), 1500m (5:11.91), 3000m steeplechase (11:29.30), as well as the women’s 4x400m and medley relays. For O’Keefe, University Games was “a sporting experience like no other.”

New Zealander Kenzie Keenan blitzed the field to claim gold in the women’s 400mH in a time of 1:01.49. Keenan played a strong role in the women’s relays, racing in the 4x100m, 4x400m and medley events. A current exchange student at the University, Keenen reflected on the week stating that the games gave her “the opportunity to make lifelong friends” as well as being “ the most memorable experience on exchange at The University of Melbourne”.

Raise the Bar program graduate, Lorraine Jaffer, took to the track in the women’s 100m hurdles (15.67) and women’s 400m hurdles (1:08.33) as well as the women’s 4x100m, 4x400m and medley relays. On the field Jaffer competed in the women’s long jump with a leap of 4.27m.

New South Wales runner Matthew Scott had a fantastic week running in the men’s 800m (1:53.58) as well as the medley relay (silver medalists). In the final of the 800m Scott ran against many national level athletes including Alex Rowe, Australian 800m record holder.

Returning student-athlete Mate Zahtila brought home a bronze medal in the men’s hammer throw (20.97m) as well as a silver medal in the men’s medley relay. Hampered by injury, Zahtila managed to throw 43.31m in the final of his pet event, the men’s javelin.

The team looks forward to the chance to claim the overall championship in 2017!

Results

MUAC will be back in action this weekend for Round 1 of AV Shield.