JCU Sport is gearing up to compete at the 2018 UniSport Nationals Div 1 next week on the Gold Coast.
JCU are sending away 40 students across 5 sports to compete with the best Universities across Australia.
JCU will be competing in men's and women's rugby 7s, men's rowing, beach volleyball mixed fours, men's and women's athletics and men's swimming.
After a strong showing in Nationals Div 2 where JCU competed in men's and women's basketball and women's water polo these Div 1 teams are hoping build on the success that was set back in July!
The students who are competing come from all different backgrounds. Here are bios on some of the students who will be representing next week at UniSport Nationals Div 1.
Sasha Belonogoff
Sasha is one of JCU Sport's Elite Athletes for 2018. Sasha is royalty in the rowing fraternity as he has previously competed at 2016 Summer Olympics where he won a silver medal in the Men's quadruple sculls.
Sasha was part of the JCU Rowing side last year at Australian Uni Games where he won Gold and Bronze Medals.
This year Sasha will be competing in the Men's Single Scull event as well as the Men's Eight which is the most prestigious rowing event at the regatta. This will be the first time JCU will be competing in the Men's Eight event.
This will also be the largest rowing team that we have ever sent away as JCU in total will be competing in a total of 6 events!
Lydia Ogden
Lydia is another one of JCU Sport's Elite Athletes for 2018. Lydia is no stranger to competing at this level as she has previously represented JCU in rugby 7s and touch football. Lydia was also the 2017 JCU Sportswoman of the Year.
Lydia will be competing in rugby 7s once again as the team will be aiming to win Gold in the competition. Lydia also has the opportunity to become just the first JCU Student to be selected in the Green and Gold squad on three separate occasions after previously being selected in 2016 & 2017.
Lydia is one of many key players in the women's rugby side that should bring an exciting brand of rugby!
Heidi Joosten
Heidi will be competing in the women's 200m and the long jump competitions which will be the first time since 2015 that we have sent someone in women's athletics.
Heidi is no stranger to competing at a high level. Last year Heidi represented Australia at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto where she won silver medals in the Women's IT6/IT7 100m, IT6/IT7 200m and IT7 400m.
Not only is Heidi competing at UniSport Nationals, but she will also be competing at this years Invictus Games in Sydney held in October after being selected in the team. Just to show how versitile she is when it comes to sport, she will also be competing in indoor rowing at the Invictus Games.
Zac Chrzanowski
Zac will be competing in swimming which will be first time we have sent a swimmer since 2015.
Zac is currently Swimming North Queensland Captain and is also part of the Swimming Australia Level 3 development team. Zac has also represented Townsville and Mackay at over 20 Queensland and Australian Titles over the past 8 years. He was also a Gold and Silver medalist at the most recent State Championships.
Zac will be very busy next week as he will be competing in the 50m, 100m & 200m backstroke as well as the 50m & 100m butterfly.
Jade Bidgood
Jade will be representing JCU in the men's 800m and 1500m athletics events.
This is the second time that Jade has represented JCU after competing back in 2016 at Australian University Games. Jade is a two time winner of the Fisher Shield Cross Country competition and also won the Great Whitehaven Beach Run back in June.
With a strong athletics team behind him, Jade will be looking to go one step better next week.
To keep up to date with all of JCU's results click on the following links:
Rugby 7s and Beach Volleyball - HERE
Rowing - HERE
Athletics - HERE
Swimming - HERE