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Graham Croker

Sydney University Athletics Club’s James Nipperess and Anneliese Rubie have been selected in the Australian team to compete at the 2011 World University Games in Shenzhen, China, in August.

Nipperess, 21, will compete in the 1500m in China, while Rubie, 18, has been selected in the women’s 400m relay.

SUAC coach Dean Gleeson says Nipperess and Rubie deserved their selection following strong performances during the Australian season.

He said Rubie was the standout Sydney University competitor in the women’s events this summer.

“She smashed her personal best taking more than half a second to finish 3rd in the women’s 400m in a time of 53.31, which was a World University Games qualifier,” he said.

SUAC’s 800m performer Lachlan Renshaw might also be added to the team should he miss out on world championship selection in coming weeks. He is presently training and competing overseas with the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, on the immediate horizon.

“Lachlan had his best domestic season ever, posting a personal best at the Melbourne Track Classic,” Gleeson said. “Two weeks later he finished 2nd to world record holder David Rudisha and beat Olympic gold medallist Asbel Kiprop in the same race at the Sydney Track Classic.”

Although Renshaw relinquished his Australian 800m crown – finishing second to James Kaan – it was a tactical race and he had decided to train through the nationals with a bigger picture in mind.

“Lachlan will race at The Prefontaine Meet in Oregon and also the New York Diamond League Meet in late May,” Gleeson said. “These are without doubt the biggest races he will have featured in and offer the best chance for him to qualify for the World Championships in Daegu.”

And Lara Tamsett, who was the first Australian and 29th overall at the recent World Cross Country Championships in the open women’s event, must also be in contention for the World University Games team.

Meanwhile, SUAC’s Russell Dessaix-Chin finished 4th overall in the Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon run at the weekend.

Dessaix-Chin ran 1hr 07.36sec to finish behind Martin Dent (1:04.59), Anthony Haber (1:05.17) and Harry Summers (1:05.53).

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