AUSTRALIAN Olympic and Commonwealth Games sprinter Lauren Wells said she is looking forward to again promoting the Queanbeyan Gift this year with fellow sprinter Melissa Breen, ahead of this year's carnival in November.
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The two queens of the track have come on board as ambassadors for the event again this year, and plan to showcase their athletic abilities by also racing in the event.
Extra seating and, for the first time in its 14 year history, a street party, will be utilised by the Queanbeyan City Council at the November 22-23 carnival, as it prepares to host 750 competitors and around 4000 spectators.
Wells said the Queanbeyan Gift was a great chance to engage with the community and promote the sport of athletics.
"Not only is it just for the athletes, but it's for the families and the community as well," Wells said.
It is hoped professional racers in Australia's top eight for both men and women will be on display, and Wells said while the Gift was a community event, it would also be taken seriously be professional athletes.
"From my point of view, I just use it for training, so trying to do quite a few events in a day, and get a few races up the legs," she said.
"Running on grass is a different art, so that's also sometimes a challenge."
"As professional athletes were usually at the back of all the racers, with a pretty tough handicap, so we have to back ourselves and try to chase everyone down."
Wells will be racing in her eighth Queanbeyan Gift, and hopes to win it for the first time since 2008.
She is expected to race in the women's 120 metre and 300 metre sprints.