Mackenzie Little won her first major international title with a season-best 61.88m on the opening throw of the Commonwealth Games javelin final at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.
The 29-year-old Sydney surgeon, who works as an ear, nose and throat registrar at Northern Beaches Hospital, beat New Zealand's Tori Moorby (60.08m) and Kenya's Irene Jepkemboi to claim gold. She will fly back to Sydney and return to work on Tuesday.
Balancing hospital shifts with throwing
"I'm so 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," said the double world bronze medallist.
Little, who admitted this year has been the hardest yet as she progresses in medicine, said she fits training around surgeries, outpatient clinics and ward care, and has changed training locations to remain within 30 minutes of the hospital in case of emergencies while on call.
"When you're on call, you need to overnight and in the evenings be within 30 minutes of the hospital in case of emergencies. I'm gonna go and fly home straight away and get back to work," she told Channel 7. She also thanked the ear, nose and throat team at Northern Beaches Hospital for covering her shifts.
Marschall's record night
Australian pole vaulter Kurtis Marschall capped the track and field program by clearing a Games-record 5.85m to win his third consecutive Commonwealth title, surpassing Steve Hooker's 5.80m from Melbourne 20 years ago.
The 29-year-old from Adelaide beat South African Kyle Rademeyer and England's Owen Heard, who both cleared 5.70m. Earlier this season Marschall handed Armand Duplantis a rare defeat.
Long jump bronze for Buschkuehl
Melbourne's Brooke Buschkuehl added a long jump bronze to her two previous Commonwealth silvers, while Wollongong teenager Delta Amidzovski finished fourth, just five centimetres off the podium.
Little said she felt like "the luckiest person in the world" to use her annual leave strategically for competition, and remains optimistic about next year and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
