Commonwealth Games 2022: When to catch Geelong’s stars in action
Rising star Mia Gross and her teammates are bound for the 4x100m final, qualifying by the barest of margins. Follow all the latest updates.
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Welcome to your hub for all the news on Geelong’s Commonwealth Games athletes. We’ll keep you up to date with their results every day in our rolling blog below.
Final awaits Torquay sprinter
Mia Gross is bound for a Commonwealth Games final in her debut campaign in Birmingham.
The 21-year-old and her 4x100m teammates finished third in their heat in front of Trinidad and Tobago by .01 of a second to automatically qualify for Sunday night’s final.
The final is set to take place tonight at 9:54pm AEST, with Nigeria the fastest qualifier at 42.57.
Australia is the third fastest qualifier at 43.47, slightly off the Australian record of 42.99 that Gross said is “very doable”.
“I think we’re in for a good chance at a medal actually and hopefully an Australian record, which is very doable,” she told the Addy going into the Games.
“The girls and I, we’ve just been eyeing down that 4x100 Australian record for so long, we’ve nearly got it twice so I feel like if there’s a time to do it, it’s at the Comm Games.”
Rising star’s unlikely Commonwealth Games debut
Torquay athlete Mia Gross is set to cap off a remarkable recovery from surgery when she hits the track in Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games.
Gross will compete in Australia’s 4x100m relay team on Saturday night (AEST), just months after overcoming emergency surgery.
Gross’ fightback is inspirational considering doctors told her “there’s no chance you’re going to be running” after her appendix burst and caused major complications.
“I was a part of the (Commonwealth Games) squad and everything at the start of the year, we went for a relay camp (in) late May,” Gross said.
“Literally the first day I ended up in hospital because my appendix was attached to my fallopian tube and it had burst.
“My fallopian tube leaked puss all throughout my pelvis and small and large intestines and stuff like that, so I went through surgery to get it all removed.
“They were able to save my fallopian tubes, so that was a win.”
Gross then had six weeks off “doing absolutely nothing”, before getting the all clear to return to running on July 3.
Despite not being selected to run, Athletics Australia decided to take Gross to Birmingham as a travelling emergency considering her strong season on the track before her surgery.
When teammate Riley Day pulled out of the relay less than a week ago due to injury, Gross got the news that she would be competing.
“It was a bit surreal, to be honest it still is a little bit surreal, I’m in the (athletes’) village, I’ve got the uniform and I’m watching everyone race and I’m thinking, ‘Oh my god, that’s going to be me soon’,” Gross said.
The rising star admits she could be running faster, however added that a medal and the women’s 4x100m relay Australian record of 42.99 are in the team’s sights.
“I’m probably not as fast as I would like to be considering it’s such a major champs, but I’ve just got to give it all that I’ve got really,” Gross said.
“I’m not putting too much pressure on myself, but I just want to run well because in a team environment, you don’t want to let anyone down.
“I think we’re in for a good chance at a medal actually and hopefully an Australian record, which is very doable.
“The girls and I, we’ve just been eyeing down that 4x100 Australian record for so long, we’ve nearly got it twice so I feel like if there’s a time to do it, it’s at the Comm Games.”
Schueler’s competitive end to singles campaign
Ocean Grove’s Jacob Schueler’s Commonwealth Games has come to an end following a 2-0 loss to Jamaica’s Samuel Ricketts in the men’s singles round of 64.
The first game was a back and forth affair, Ricketts jumping out to a game-high five-point lead.
Schueler was able to get the game within one-point at 20-19 but despite riding some momentum, couldn’t hit the lead and Ricketts prevailed 21-19.
After Schueler jumped out to an 8-6 lead to start the second game, Ricketts went on a 15-7 run to round out the contest, eventually winning game two 21-15 to go through to the round of 32.
Earlier in week one in Birmingham, Schueler and team Australia were unsuccessful in winning through to a quarterfinal of the mixed team event.
They lost their opening group stage game to Sri Lanka 3-2, however Schueler did not feature in that game.
They rebounded to defeat Pakistan in game two 3-2, Schueler going down in the men’s singles of that contest to Muhammad Irfan Saeed Bhatti 2-0.
Game three saw Australia lose to India 4-1, however Schueler did not compete in that contest.
Judo star’s ‘amazing’ return from the brink
After nearly three-and-a-half years off the international circuit, Geelong judo star Jake Bensted says it was “just amazing” to win a Commonwealth Games bronze medal.
The 2014 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist defeated Northern Ireland’s Joshua Green, capping off a successful return to the top level after a horror run with injuries.
“Very relieved, obviously very disappointed with the semi final but very happy with that bronze medal fight and (to) come away with the bronze,” Bensted told Channel 7 post-fight.
“Start of 2018 I tore the labrum in my shoulder, ended up missing 12 months with that, I came back (and) broke my wrist, missed another six months.
“Then with the Covid closures, I had almost three-and-a-half years off (the) international circuit before coming back in October last year.
“To come from that, to be able to get here is just amazing, I’m very happy.”
On Tuesday night, Bensted fell to eventual gold medal winner Daniel Powell in a semi final, however bounced back to take down Green via submission.
“It (was) actually about 20 seconds longer than last Comm Games in 2014, that bronze (medal) fight was about 10 seconds, so little longer this time but still glad to get the job done,” Bensted said.
Ocean Grove’s Jacob Schueler is set to get his singles campaign underway Thursday morning in the round of 64 against Jamaica’s Samuel Ricketts.
His session is set to run from 1:30am-5:30am AEST.
Schueler set for inaugural singles campaign
Ocean Grove’s Jacob Schueler is set to begin his quest for Commonwealth Games glory tomorrow, with the Australian representative competing in the badminton round of 64.
The Aussie team did not make it out of qualifying, but Schueler will start his singles campaign against Jamaica’s Samuel Ricketts.
Schueler is a slight underdog against Ricketts, with the Australian currently ranked 268th in the world and Ricketts sitting 191st.
The 24-year old Australian is competing in his first Commonwealth Games, with the event his debut at a major tournament.
If Schueler can clinch a gold medal at Birmingham, he will be the first Australian to win a Commonwealth Games gold medal in badminton since 1994, and only the third in the past 56 years.
Frankston’s Lisa Campbell won the gold medal in the women’s single event in 1994, while mixed-doubles pair Michael Scandolera and Audrey Swaby won gold in 1986.
Another Geelong local, Jake Bensted, will compete tonight in the judo round of 16 against Scotland’s Billy Rodman.
Geelong Comm Games watch: Gallagher’s double gold delight
Former Highton cyclist Jess Gallagher and her pilot Caitlin Ward will leave the 2022 Commonwealth Games with two gold medals in their luggage after a dominant performance in the women’s Tandem B 1000m time trial.
The pair backed up their victory in the Tandem B sprint finals, with their gold one of four won by Australia during a dramatic day at London’s Lee Valley VeloPark, which included a massive crash that forced the stadium to be cleared.
Geelong athletes Kirsty Harris and Brenna Kean were not able to back up Gallagher’s medal-winning heroics in their respective sports, with Harris losing in her round-of-16 boxing bout and Kean finishing fifth in her weightlifting class.
READ MORE: ROLLING COMMONWEALTH GAMES COVERAGE
Gallagher and Ward overcame England pair Sophie Unwin and pilot Georgia Holt to take the gold.
Gallagher said she and Ward had to dig deep to prevail in the brutal race.
“You go so deep in the hole that you have no comprehension of what your time’s going to look like when you cross the line,” Gallagher said.
“That’s the fastest kilo time I’ve ever done, and it’s amazing to do that at the biggest competition. They’re two massive PBs for us, and you couldn’t ask to do it anywhere else.
“We set ourselves the goal of stepping onto the top of that podium. We knew the sprint was our best shot, so to achieve it in the kilo as well is very special.”
Also competing on Sunday night, Kean finished fifth in the women’s 59kg weightlifting late with a 108kg clean and jerk effort.
A 114kg effort would have been enough for Kean to get a medal at her first Commonwealth Games, but her attempt was unsuccessful.
Meanwhile Harris was defeated in her round-of-16 fight against Northern Ireland’s Carly McNaul in the light flyweight, losing 3-2 on points.
Harris was named as Australia’s boxing captain for the Commonwealth Games.
Highton’s Jessica Gallagher claims gold medal
Just three years ago Jessica Gallagher thought she would never ride in a tandem race again.
Now the former Highton cyclist is a Commonwealth Games gold medallist, after triumphing in Birmingham.
The Paralympian, alongside pilot Caitlin Ward, claimed a gold medal in the women’s tandem sprint, beating Scotland’s Alieen McGlynn and Ellie Stone in both races in the final on Friday night.
Gallagher’s triumph follows on from two cycling silver medals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and is a winning return to the velodrome after her previous pilot Maddie Janssen retired in 2019, which meant Gallagher, who is legally blind, couldn’t compete.
“It is incredible, I never thought I would ride a tandem again when I came off the team in 2019 and went into rowing,” Gallagher said.
“So to come here and find an incredible pilot in Caity, we work so well together, it has been a real honour for me.
“I think I just keep getting better with age, it is a real privilege to be a Paralympian and hopefully it inspires anyone with a disability out there but especially kids because I didn’t have this exposure growing up.”
After a tight start to the first race during the first two laps, Gallagher and Ward were able to pull away and claim a win.
McGlynn and Stone nearly forced a third race, however Gallagher and Ward were able to pip them on the line to take home Australia’s first gold medal of the track cycling program.
Geelong’s Brenna Kean was set to compete in the women’s 59kg weightlifting late on Sunday night, as was boxer Kristy Harris.
Australia’s mixed badminton team, featuring Ocean Grove’s Jacob Schueler, did not make it out of the group stage, however his singles run kicks off on Wednesday at 7pm.
Jake Bensted will start his campaign for a judo medal on Tuesday from 7pm.
Geelong boxer named Aussie skipper
Geelong boxer Kristy Harris says she’s honoured to be selected to captain the Australian boxing team at this year’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Harris took to Instagram after she was announced as captain on Monday, looking towards her second Commonwealth Games.
“Honoured to have been selected as team captain for the Commonwealth Games Australian boxing team,” her caption read.
“Ready to steer the ship and crew to gold.”
Jacob Schueler (badminton), Jessica Gallagher (cycling), Brenna Kean (weightlifting) and Jake Bensted (judo) will also represent the Geelong region in Birmingham.
The opening ceremony will take place on Friday, July 29 from 4am-7:30am AEST.
Gallagher is set to be the first athlete in action later that night, competing in the women’s tandem B – sprint qualification from 7pm.
Schueler is next, taking to the court in round 1 of the mixed team event against Sri Lanka from 11pm.
Harris is set for her first bout in the women’s over 48kg-50kg round of 16 on Sunday, July 31 from 9pm.
Brenna Kean will follow closely behind, the women’s 59kg event and medal ceremony scheduled for an 11pm start.
Jake Bensted will have to wait until Tuesday, August 2 for the men’s 73kg preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, semi finals and repechage, starting at 7pm.
Originally published as Commonwealth Games 2022: When to catch Geelong’s stars in action
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