From the 24-29th of September, JCU Sport sent over 50 students to compete at the Australian University Games on the Gold Coast. JCU Sport had a representation in rugby 7s, beach volleyball, rowing and T20 cricket.
The games turned out to be a successful one for JCU, winning a gold and a bronze in rowing.
On the final day of competition, medals were up for grabs in rowing with Jordan Duff and 2016 Rio Olympics Silver Medallist Sasha Belonogoff first up for JCU in the Men’s Double Scull.
It was a hard-fought race for Jordan and Sasha however the boys were able to hold off strong competition to win gold in their race.
The medals did not stop there as Sasha also came home with a Bronze Medal in the Men’s Single Scull. Sasha was in fifth position at one stage however he was able to come home strong to win bronze.
These are the first medals JCU has won in rowing at the Australian University Games. The Gold Medal in the Men’s Double Scull is also the first gold JCU has won at the games since 2014.
JCU also came agonisingly short in women’s rugby 7s finishing fourth in their competition. After finishing third in the pool rounds, the team went up against a strong Charles Sturt University side who were too good on the day (they would go on to win the Gold Medal). JCU did have a chance of securing a bronze against the University of Newcastle however they ran out of gas.
It was not all disappointment for the rugby 7s team as Lydia Ogden, Madison Lis and Briellen Fenoglio were all selected for the Green and Gold squad.
Big congratulations to all of the students and their efforts!