By JARROD POTTER
ATHLETES from the City of Casey will attempt to swim, shoot, flick and run their way into Commonwealth Games glory.
Seven athletes who play, train and live in the city will compete in Glasgow – with the opening ceremony and inaugural events commencing this morning (Thursday).
Led out onto Hampden Park Stadium by Olympic champion Anna Meares, our Australian contingent stands a great chance of winning medals and placing highly.
Swimmers Matson Lawson and Josh Beaver are inside the top-10 worldwide for their events, ranked two and three respectively in the Commonwealth this year for times in the 200-metre backstroke, while Mitch Pratt is ranked 11th worldwide and moves into second for Commonwealth times.
Cranbourne’s Pratt was thrilled to earn his first Australian senior team selection and couldn’t believe it when he was called into the squad.
“It’s pretty surreal really – I couldn’t believe when I touched the wall and turned around and I was under the time to go; I was in shock,” Pratt said earlier this year.
“I always dreamt about it but I never thought it would be a realistic shot.”
Shooters Lalita Yauhleuskaya and Laetisha Scanlan, both from Berwick, are Commonwealth Games gold medalists, with Scanlan the reigning women’s trap pairs champion from Delhi.
Jeff Riseley will compete in the 800/1500-metre athletics double and is on pace to earn a place in the semi-finals of both events and potentially push towards the medal dais.
Rounding out the athletes is one with great form heading into the games – as Endeavour Hills born-and-bred Chris Ciriello was part of Australia’s World Cup winning field hockey team earlier this year.
For their full form guides and athletes’ finals schedules, purchase this week’s edition of the Pakenham-Berwick Gazette.
COMMONWEALTH GAMES REPRESENTATIVES
Laetisha Scanlan (Berwick), Jeff Riseley (Harkaway), Lalita Yauhleuskaya (Berwick), Matson Lawson (Langwarrin, swims for Casey TigerSharks), Josh Beaver (Tooradin), Mitch Pratt (Cranbourne) and Chris Ciriello (formerly Endeavour Hills).
