Sydney doctor Mackenzie Little has finally become a golden girl with the javelin as she led one last parade of Commonwealth Games field event medallists in the green and gold.
The remarkable 29-year-old Little, a doctor at Northern Beaches Hospital, can barely even call herself a part-time athlete these days, such is her busy medical life, but she still proved too good for her opponents as she finally lifted a major international title.
She nailed victory with her first throw and then revealed she will be jetting straight back to work on Tuesday as an ear, nose and throat registrar.
On a night when pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall completed Australia’s golden track-and-field program by soaring to a Games-record 5.85 metres and a third-straight title, Little’s achievement felt even more astonishing.
“I’m so I’m relieved and excited — this is so fantastic. Nailing the first throw is maybe something to do with how my training’s been a bit quality over quantity in the last couple of years,” she said.
“I wish I could say, you know, that I’m really, really training my butt off, but I’m just having to fit things in around my job. I’m having to make the most of sometimes challenging situations, not having all the time in the world.
“I perform surgeries and see outpatients in clinics and take care of patients who are in the ward sick in hospital. Then in the evenings, I’ll get to training, but I’ve had to change my training locations this year to stay within 30 minutes of the hospital. When you’re on call, you need to — overnight and in the evenings — be within 30 minutes of the hospital in case of emergencies.Â
“I’m gonna go and fly home straight away and get back to work.”
On a tricky night for throwers in the Scotstoun Stadium on the last evening of track and field competition, Little believed her technique of throwing low and hard to cut through the wind helped her to a season best 61.88m with an opener that no-one else threatened.
New Zealand silver medallist Tori Moorby hurled 60.08m in the third round to grab the silver, while Kenya’s Irene Jepkemboi took the bronze.
Kurtis Marschall reacts after securing his third Commonwealth Games gold medal in the pole vault. (Getty Images: Dean Mouhtaropoulos)
Marschall, winner at both the Gold Coast and Birmingham Commonwealth Games, finished the night in style by becoming only the third Australian ever to win three titles in a row in the same event, and ending with a leap that surpassed his hero Steve Hooker’s 5.80m in Melbourne 20 years ago.
Entering the competition late, the hot favourite from Adelaide held his nerve to defeat South African silver medallist Kyle Rademeyer and England’s bronze winner Owen Heard (both 5.70m).
It was the latest big achievement for the 29-year-old, who earlier in the season handed a once-in-a-blue-moon defeat to the sport’s modern-day legend, Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis.
“I just wanted to solidify myself in the record books, like I already did with the gold medal, but I definitely wanted to jump that 5.85 and take it off Steve,” Marschall said.
Brooke Buschkuehl in action and on her way to bronze in the long jump. (Getty Images: Michael Steele)
Melbourne’s Brooke Buschkuehl, the indefatigable 33-year-old mum, also made it a hat-trick of medals, but again missed out on the one she really wanted as she added a bronze in the long jump to go with her two silvers from Gold Coast and Birmingham.
Promising Wollongong teenager Delta Amidzovski, the 19-year-old world junior long jump champion, finished fourth, just five centimetres off a podium place.
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