With one eye on Shanghai, Australia’s top divers will be competing in Melbourne this weekend at the 2011 Australian Selection Trials. Following a weekend of high-flying competition, the Australian Team will be named for the July World Championships in China.
With one eye on Shanghai, Australia’s top divers will be competing in Melbourne this weekend at the 2011 Australian Selection Trials. Following a weekend of high-flying competition, the Australian Team will be named for the July World Championships in China.
The most compelling viewing will be the four way clash in the women’s 10 metre platform event (final on Sunday afternoon). This will see Australia’s best women go head to head in a battle for only two spots on the team.
It will be the first time in over twelve months that Olympians Alexandra Croak (NSW) and Melissa Wu (NSW) will face up and coming Queenslander Brittany Broben. 15 year-old Broben, ironically the same age as Wu was when she qualified for the Beijing Olympic Games, won gold at her first senior international meet in America last month. Enter into the battle promising NSW diver Hannah Thek and the 10m final is anyone’s game.
In the male ranks Beijing gold medallist Matthew Mitcham will not be competing due to a stomach injury, but has been given a medical exemption and will be selected on the World Championships team once he recovers.
Fellow Commonwealth Games medallist Ethan Warran has been ruled out with an infection and Beijing Olympian Scott Robertson hit his head in training on Thursday and awaits scans after having eight stitches in his head. Robertson may still compete in his pet 3m springboard event but it is anticipated that last year’s Nationals results will be applied to the pair to determine selection.
Among the divers competing this weekend will be Melissa Wu, Alexandra Croak, Sharleen Stratton, Grant Nel, James Connor, Brittany Broben, Hannah Thek, Rachel Bugg and Anabelle Smith, demonstrating a blend of experience and youth in their quest for selection for Shanghai in July.
The events get underway on Friday morning at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) commencing at 9.45am and will continue over the weekend with morning and afternoon sessions.
AOC with Diving Australia