by Alfonz Juck
Dani Samuels, Doha DL, May 2015, photo by PhotoRun.net
Australian Olympic team
SYDNEY (AUS): New faces and seasoned track and field performers have been selected on to the 2016 Australian Olympic Team today for the Rio Games. In total 28 new athletes have been announced at a Gala Dinner at Sydney Olympic Park, following the conclusion of the four day Australian Championships. Seven athletes across the 10,000m and walks who have already been named were also recognised. Eloise Wellings who was named in the 10,000m previously adds the 5000m to her race program for Rio 2016. By mid-July the Athletics Section of the Team could be 50 athletes – the largest of any sport wearing the green and gold in Rio. Commonwealth high jump champion Eleanor Patterson is the youngest member and 3000m steeplechaser Victoria Mitchell is the eldest of four 33-year-olds. Of the 28 new additions to the Team selected 17 will make their Olympic debut, seven are at their second Games and four (Alana Boyd, Benn Harradine, Pearson, Dani Samuels) are off to their third. All three available spots have been filled in the women’s javelin (Kim Mickle, Kathryn Mitchell, Kelsey-Lee Roberts) and women’s steeplechase (Madeline Hills, Genevieve LaCaze, Victoria Mitchell), while in the men’s long jump (Fabrice Lapierre, Henry Frayne), women’s 100m hurdles (Pearson, Michelle Jenneke) and women’s long jump (Brooke Stratton, Chelsea Jaensch) two positions are currently filled.
