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Great Court Race

The Great Court Race is one of The University of Queensland’s proudest traditions – a bucket list event for competitors and a must-see spectacle!

First held in 1985 to celebrate UQ’s 75th anniversary, the event is based on Cambridge University’s famed Great Court Run – immortalised in the film ‘Chariots of Fire’.

Headlined by the Men’s and Women’s Great Court Races, the event also includes 70m Sprint races, as well as College, Club and Staff Relays.

The 2025 Great Court Race – celebrating its 40th anniversary – will be held on Wednesday 21 May from 12:30pm. Race nomination will open in early April via this page. 

NOMINATE NOW

The University of Queensland,
Building 33, Union Rd,
St Lucia, Qld 4067

All entrants are required to participate in a time trial in order to gain entry to their selected event. 

Time trials will be held at the UQ Sport Athletics Centre on Thursday 2 May 2024, with sessions taking place between 7 – 9:30am and 1 – 3:30pm.

For the 70m Sprint Category, the top six (6) times will qualify; for all other categories, the top four (4) times will qualify.

Your registration form will ask you to nominate your preferred session for your category.

Mixed Staff Relay7:00am1:00pm
Individual Great Court Race7:30am1:30pm
70m Sprints8:00am2:00pm
College Relay8:30am2:30pm
Mixed Clubs Relay9:00am3:00pm
 

Race Categories

Men’s & Women’s Great Court Race

The Great Court Race is the event’s signature sprint – a 636m lap of UQ St Lucia’s iconic Great Court. Open only to UQ undergraduate students, four competitors race through the Great Court’s historic cloisters to the sound of chiming bells, with the aim to complete the lap before the 12th chime to claim a race record. Spikes are not permitted; time trials will be used to determine race entry.

The Alumni Friends, through their Great Court Race Endowment, contribute to the winner’s prize money of this category

Prize Money: 1st Place $1,000, 2nd Place $250, 3rd Place $100

Men’s & Women’s College Relays

Bragging rights are on the line when UQ’s Colleges go head-to-head in the always competitive Men’s and Women’s Relays! Open only to students who reside at a UQ College, each relay involves four irregular legs (145m, 156m, 155m, and 180m) due to the Great Court’s unique layout. Spikes are not permitted; time trials will be used to determine race entry.

Prize Money: 1st Place $400, 2nd Place $200, 3rd Place $100

Men’s & Women’s 70m Sprint

Raced on the grassed area inside the Great Court, the Men’s and Women’s 70m Sprint is a handicap race. A maximum of six runners can compete in each sprint, with nominations open to all current UQ students (undergraduate and postgraduate). Handicap distances will be determined by time trial results. Starting blocks are provided to all participants, and spikes may be worn.

Prize Money: 1st Place $150, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $50

Mixed Staff Relay

It’s faculty vs faculty in the Mixed Staff Relay, with both full and part-time UQ staff eligible to compete. Each four-person team must consist of two male and two female runners. Each relay involves four irregular legs (145m, 156m, 155m, and 180m) due to the Great Court’s unique layout. Spikes are not permitted; time trials will be used to determine race entry.

1st Place:  4 x 1-Month UQ Sport Gold Membership

Mixed Clubs Relay

There’s no love lost when UQ’s clubs battle to the finish in the Mixed Clubs Relay! Open to all UQ Clubs, each team consists of two male and two female student runners (competitors must be a registered member of the respective club). Each relay involves four irregular legs (145m, 156m, 155m, and 180m) due to the Great Court’s unique layout. Spikes are not permitted; time trials will be used to determine race entry.

Prize Money: 1st Place $400, 2nd Place $200, 3rd Place $100

 

2025 Event Schedule

Free BBQ and lawn games

Welcome

Women’s 70m Sprint

Men’s 70m Sprint

Sprint Presentations

Mixed Staff Relay

Mixed Club Relay

Mixed Staff and Club Relay Presentations

Women’s Great Court Race

Men’s Great Court Race

Great Court Race Presentations

Women’s College Relay

Men’s College Relay

College Relay Presentations

12.30 PM

1:00 PM

1:05 PM

1:10 PM

1:15 PM

1:20 PM

1:25 PM

1:30 PM

1:35 PM

1:40 PM

1:45 PM

1:50 PM

1:55 PM

2:00 PM

 

Location

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