Australian University Games takes focus off studies and to the field

THE Australian University Games have come and gone, with Murdoch University hosting four events over the course of the tournament.

The women’s cycling criterium was won by Ella Scanlan-Bloor (University of Sydney) in a time of 34:17, two seconds ahead of Kerry Jonker (RMIT University) and fours seconds in front of local hopeful Julia Kalotas (University of Notre Dame).

The men’s event was cancelled due to unsafe conditions.

UWA prevailed in the fencing program, thanks largely to a dominant women’s side that picked up 30 of the available 50 competition points.

The men finished second to the University of Melbourne but combined with the women did enough to hold onto overall first with 67 points, ahead of UM (60) and University of Sydney (28).

The University of Technology Sydney dominated the kendo tournament to finish first on 16 points ahead of the University of Sydney (10) and UWA and Monash who tied for third with eight points.

UWA’s effort was highlighted by Anupa Kritmanorote who won the women’s individual kyu.

Held at the Murdoch University Sports Grounds, Twenty20 cricket proved popular with the University of Sydney booking its spot in the 2017 Red Bull Campus Cricket World Final with a dominant unbeaten tournament.

Curtin University lost to University of Sydney in the semi-final and was then beaten by Monash University in the bronze medal game.

UWA was crowned both the overall and per capita champion for the 2016 Australian University Games.