Athletics Australia – News – Celebrity relay adds fresh flavour to Sydney Track Classic

The 2012 Sydney Track Classic, the third leg of the Qantas Australian Athletics Tour, is shaping up to be a star-studded affair in more ways than one.

Kicking off at 6:00pm on Saturday, February 18, the Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre will play host to the world’s best track and field athletes, from both Australia and around the world.

But if this world-class competition wasn’t entertainment enough, Hayden Knowles from Competitive Edge has organised a Celebrity Relay event that is shaping up to be a show-stopper.

Fans will have the opportunity to compete in the relay teams of a number of well-known Australian celebrities, adding a touch of glamour to this night of track & field competition.

A man very familiar with the elite sprinting scene is Matt Shirvington, whose athletic experience at an international and Olympic level will make his team very hard to beat.

However, this has not daunted the relay’s second celebrity figure, Michael Vella, who claims Shirvington is no competition.

As an Australian professional rugby league footballer who played in the NRL for the Parramatta Eels, and who currently captains English Super League club Hull Kingston Rovers, Vella’s confidence is justified.

The same can be said for Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player, Brad “Freddie” Fittler, who captained both New South Wales and Australia, and in 2000 was awarded the Golden Boot award.

With statements that he is training the house down, Wendell Sailor is another rugby celebrity not to dismiss. But will these former professional athletes still have what it takes, or have they lost their killer competitive instinct?

Bondi Rescue lifeguard, Andrew Reid, has confirmed his intention to take part, believing his physically demanding job and the fact that he runs 10km a day, will give him that competitive edge.

But let’s not forget the ladies! Channel Nine reporters Roz Kelly and Erin Molan are two of the three female representatives in this celebrity event, and have been training hard in determination to show the speed of the fairer sex.

Last but not least is Renee Gartner, whose involvement in Fox Sports The League Lounge means she definitely knows a thing or two about sporting competition!

To read an interview with Andrew Reid ahead of the relay, please follow this link to the Athletics Australia website.

The Sydney Track Classic will be held at Sydney Olympic Park Athletics Centre this Saturday, February 18 from 6:00pm.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.sydneytrackclassic.com

For more information on the Sydney Track Classic, please click here.

With thanks to Lara Tamsett at Athletics New South Wales

 

 Athletics Australia – News