Murray Goodwin wins the Men's 400m. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Camera IconMurray Goodwin wins the Men's 400m. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images

Doubts over whether Gold Coast Commonwealth Games will feature 4x400 event

Paul MaloneThe Courier-Mail

THE Queenslanders who swept to a trifecta in the national 400m final on Saturday will not know until later this week if there will be an Australian 4x400 team at their home Commonwealth Games.

Athletics Australia chairman of selectors Dion Russell says they are deciding if they can fit four relay squads into their athletics team of 111, including 86 able-bodied athletes, set to be announced on Thursday for the Gold Coast Games.

Gold Coast’s 400m champion Murray Goodwin said the 400m runners have lifted their game this summer and should be given a chance to run a relay at a home Games.

Murray Goodwin wins the Men's 400m. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Camera IconMurray Goodwin wins the Men's 400m. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) Credit: Getty Images

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“You put a baton in our hands and we will make a final for you,’’ Goodwin said.

“I’m pretty hopeful. At the start of the season, there was a little bit of talk the 4x400m boys needed to up their game and since then I think seven boys have run sub-47sec.’’

Goodwin beat fellow Queenslanders Daniel Mowen and Alex Bolt in Saturday’s 400m final at the national titles at Carrara Stadium, but none has a qualifying time for the Games.

“Some relay teams are stronger than others, I think is pretty obvious — one is a bit questionable on the depth and quality,’’ Russell said.

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Steve Solomon, the 2012 Olympic finalist, is the only Australian to have an A or B-qualifying time in the 400m, and tweeted on Saturday that while he had skipped the national titles he is “healthy and in great form’’.

Solomon congratulated Goodwin by Twitter on a “superb victory’’ after the Gold Coast high school teacher won the national title at age 31.

Queensland high jumper Cassie Purdon became an automatic Games selection when she managed to clear at a B-qualifying height of 1.86 at her third and final attempt, winning the national title on Sunday.

Brisbane long jumper Henry Frayne, on the other hand, had to leave his Games fate up to the selection panel on the basis of his A-qualifier when a niggle led him to withdraw from Sunday’s final, which was won by Victorian Chris Mitrevski with 8.09m.

“He thought at the warm-ups he could tear something,’’ Australian head coach Craig Hilliard said.

“We know if we can get something out of Henry, it can be a big competition. He’s highly talented and has great faith in his ability. With his injuries, I’d have given up the sport years ago.’’

Games selections are subjective, but the national panels are loath cannot be swayed by personal stories even as rich as Goodwin’s.

Goodwin left athletics to study to become a teacher and earn a living to pay for their studies and when he returned to the sport, winning the 2015 Stawell Gift, he was set back by hip injury in 2016.

“This is my second season of 400s. I have some building to go,’’ he said.

Goodwin joked Masters competition was becoming an option, but said a 2019 world championships bid was not out of the question.

“While ever I am improving and the desire is there I want to keep turning up. I’m happy running my guts out,’’ he said.

Originally published as Relay run no certainty for 400m guns