Goodwill Games

03/23/2001

Aussie Championships the Road to Goodwill Glory

The Telstra Australian Track and Field Championships starting today is a crucial meet for athletes who have set their sights on selection for the 2001 Goodwill Games.

The top performers at the Australian Championships will be selected for the 2001 World Track and Field Championships in August, which is the final athletics selection meet for the 2001 Goodwill Games.

Invitations to compete at the 2001 Goodwill Games athletics competition are based on athletes' performances at the 2000 Olympics, the 2001 World Championships and other international competitions.

Goodwill Games organisers also have discretion to extend invitations to one Australian athlete per event if they are ranked close to the top eight in the world.

Among the 700 Australian track and field athletes expected to compete at the Australian Championships are Tatiana Grigorieva, Matt Shirvington, Patrick Johnson, Paul Di Bella, Kyle Vander Kuyp, Andrew Murphy and Peter Burge.

The Championships are being held at Brisbane's ANZ Stadium, which will also host the Goodwill Games athletics competition.

2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane Chief Executive Campbell Rose said the chance for a spot in the World Championships team would be a great motivator for competitors at the Australian Championships.

"By booking themselves a spot in the World Championships, these athletes will be only one step away from selection for the Goodwill Games," Mr Rose said.

"Even if they finish up with a ranking just outside the top eight in the world, they could still be selected for the Goodwill Games based on our criteria of one Australian athlete per event.

"This could give many Australian athletes their first and only chance ever of competing alongside the likes of Maurice Greene in our exciting finals-only format."

Other track legends confirmed to compete at the 2001 Goodwill Games include Michael Johnson, Ato Boldon, Marion Jones, Tatiana Grigorieva and Jai Taurima.

More than 450 of the world's top track and field athletes will compete for a huge prize purse in the Goodwill Games athletics competition from September 4 to 7.

Media information:
Lisa White, 2001 Goodwill Games Brisbane
Ph: 07 3233 2084 (direct) / Mobile: 0404 842 370
E-mail: lisa.white@2001gwgbrisbane.com.au

Back to Australia News Archive