REDLAND City may be a training ground for athletes during the Commonwealth Games when Sheldon College opens its new state of the art track and field facilities to athletes from across the world.
Students, staff and special guests gathered at the college on Tuesday to celebrate the new facilities with an official opening ceremony.
Featuring a blue, Spurtan BV ‘sandwich’ synthetic track and natural turf infield, the track was opened by former Queensland premier and chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Peter Beattie AC.
In opening the facility, Mr Beattie said it would be both a lasting legacy for the school and an example to students of the importance of physical activity and fair competition.
“Sheldon College is in a fantastic position to benefit from the Commonwealth Games,” he told students.
“Not just because it’s a little further down the road, but because you will have an opportunity for athletes to come here and you will have an opportunity to see the best in the world competing right in your own backyard.”
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A Sheldon College spokeswoman said the facility was currently being assessed for IAAF class 2 certification, which the college expected to receive soon.
She said the facilities included a 400m, eight-lane athletics track, steeplechase water jump, javelin runways, shot put and discus circles, pole vault and high jump facilities and long and triple jump areas.
“(This is) in addition to a new, immaculately drained, natural turf infield suitable for rugby, football and other field sports,” she said.
Other guests at the opening included Triathlon Queensland executive director Tim Harradine, Queensland Athletics chief executive officer David Gynther, Metropolitan East Regional school sport officer Des Guy, Redland mayor Karen Williams and others.
