Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» of Queensland will host more than 250 athletes from across South East Queensland at the annual tomorrow night - kicking off the summer track and field season.
The Classic has been the first event on the summer calendar since its inception in 2004 and features a range of 1500m events from race walking through to elite men’s and women’s running races - with the program boasting 19 races in total.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sport 1500m Classic director Tom Brandt said a $6000 prize pool was up for grabs, including $1500 in prize money that will be pocketed by the male and female elite race winners along with a $500 bonus for race record breakers.
“This year’s first place prize money is triple that of our 2015 event which has sparked greater interest and resulted in a record number of race entries,” Mr Brandt said.
Athletes of all ages will flock from across South East Queensland to take part in the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sport 1500m Classic from primary and secondary school age competitors to Masters and Open age groups entrants.
Fresh from his bronze medal winning performance at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, Dane Bird-Smith will toe the line in the 1500m Men’s Walk.
Joining spectators in the grandstands will be Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»’s returning Rio Olympians including decathlete Cedric Dubler, pole vaulter Alana Boyd and sprinter Caitlin Sargent. A meet and greet with these Olympic athletes will be held post-event in the trackside function room - .
For the first time in this event’s history the Men’s and Women’s Classic races will be streamed live to audiences worldwide via the page.
“Live streaming will move the event into a new era where friends and family can support their athletes no matter where they are in the world,” said Mr Brandt.
This event will be presented by Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sport at the in St Lucia in association with event partners , and the .
Races commence from 5:20pm with live streaming of the POWERADE Men’s and Women’s 1500m Classic races commencing at 7:00pm.
Media: Ashley Hanger, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sport Marketing Assistant, AshleyH@uqsport.com.au, +61 7 3365 6046.
