Five Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» student athletes have been awarded a Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Blue – Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» of Queensland’s highest sporting honour at the , with a further 19 athletes receiving Half-Blue honours.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sport chief executive Bryan Pryde said the awardees would join an exclusive sporting community, which included many of Australia’s sporting greats.
“Since 1912, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Blues have been awarded to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» athletes who have achieved exceptional sporting success at a national or international level,” Mr Pryde said.
“The Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Blues are a time-honoured tradition, and over the past century have included some of the world’s finest sportsmen and women including the likes of Susie O’Neill, Kieren Perkins and Stephen Moore.”
The event was held at and was hosted by ABC Grandstand commentator Gerry Collins, and attended by two-time Olympian and gold medallist Dr David Theile AO, and Rio Olympian and bronze medallist Dane Bird-Smith, who served as guest speakers.
The five 2016 Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Blue winners are:
Bradley Mark for his achievements in shooting. The two-time Paralympian and PhD student competed in both the 10m Air Rifle Standing and 10m Air Rifle Prone (SH2) events at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, achieving a best result of 12th in the Standing competition.
Angus Scott-Young for his accomplishments in rugby union. The commerce and pre-medicine student represented Australia in the Under 20’s team and currently holds a contract with the Development Squad.
Tallisha Harden for her accomplishments in rugby league. The speech pathology student gained selection in both the Women’s Rugby League Squad, and the 2016 NRL team where she was also named as captain.
Jacinta Carroll for the sport of water skiing. The physiotherapy student received a Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Blue. She won gold at World Championship level in the Women’s Jump event, and set new course records at the US Masters, the Vladimir Filin Memorial World Cup and the Malibu Open.
Caitlin Cronin for her success in rowing. The engineering student won silver at the Australian National Championships Interstate Regatta Queens Cup, and gold in the Under 23 Women’s Quad.
Nineteen Half-Blues were awarded to athletes for their exceptional performances at either a state or university-level, with table tennis, fencing, powerlifting and archery among the variety of sports represented.
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Half Blue Awardees
Marioulla Belessis, Rugby Sevens, Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Nicholas Buckley, Sailing, Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Law (Honours)
Bram Chapman, Rowing, Bachelor of Architectural Design
Ching Chong, Table Tennis, Bachelor of Economics
Jeremy Crighton, Indoor Cricket, Bachelor of Arts
Lachlan Crook, Fencing, Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours)
Gabrielle Dale, Archery, Bachelor of Arts
Kelly Drenth, Rowing, Bachelor of Architectural Design
Brandon Herrigan, Athletics, Bachelor of Regional & Town Planning
Harry Hockings, Rugby Union, Bachelor of Commerce
Bronte Jackson, Fencing, Bachelor of Arts
Liam Jurd, Rugby Union, Bachelor of Business Management
Harrison Lamb, Sailing, Bachelor of Engineering/Bachelor of Biotechnology (Honours)
Rex Parsons, Powerlifting, Bachelor of Science
Philippus Potgieter, Rugby Union, Bachelor of Exercise & Sports Science (Honours)
Georgina Rackermann, Rugby Sevens, Bachelor of Health, Sport & Physical Education
Kate Rowan, Rowing, Bachelor of Engineering
Clara Smith, Athletics, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours
Erin Smith, Rowing, Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Economics
Media: Ashley Hanger, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Sport Marketing Assistant, AshleyH@uqsport.com.au, +61 7 3365 6046, 0423 077 325.
