19 September 2007 By Verena Stocker
World champions and Olympians will be members of the University of Sydney team competing at the Australian University Games, to be held on the Gold Coast next week.
Mel Hammond, who recently returned from the 2007 World Junior Women’s Water Polo Championships, where the Australians were undefeated in winning the gold medal, will be a member of the Sydney University team hoping to wrest back the overall University Games title.
Also in the Sydney University team will be rower Liz Kell, who helped win the 2006 Women’s World Double Scull Championship, and Olympic 50m freestyler Michelle Englesman who captained the Australian team at the recent World University Games, where she finished 6th in the 50m freestyle.
The athletics squad will be bolstered by the inclusion of middle-distance runner Lachlan Renshaw, who finished second in the 800m at the 2006 World Junior Athletics Championships and 8th at the 2007 World University Games, Justin Merlino, the Australian 100m hurdle champion, and Annabelle Smith, who is looking to qualify for the 200m and 400m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after narrowly missing out on the Athens Games.
Sydney University will enter the six-day event having won the overall points title seven times in the 13-year history of the Australian University Games.
Despite finishing third behind the University of Melbourne and Monash University in 2006, Sydney University has a strong chance to wrest back the title, having won the right to compete in baseball, cross country, women’s hockey, rowing, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, and men and women’s water polo.
Sydney University Boat Club will also be looking to continue their success on the water, with a strong rowing contingent competing.
And, as reigning champions in both the men’s and women’s water polo Sydney University will enter the competition as firm favorites.
The Australian University Games attract over 6000 athletes and officials from over 40 universities.
