Commonwealth Games: Russell, Lauryn Mark aim for Glasgow gold

Hoppers Crossing residents Russell and Lauryn Mark have qualified for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The husband-and-wife shooting duo were named in the official team last week and will represent Australia in Glasgow in just under three months.

Russell will compete in the men’s double trap category; Lauryn will go for gold in the women’s skeet.

Russell has won gold for Australia at both Commonwealth and Olympic Games, while Lauryn is a three-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist.

Also competing at this year’s Commonwealth Games will be Keilor’s Adam Vella, who will contest the clay target men’s trap shoot.

Ranked number one in Australia, the 43-year-old was an easy choice for selectors.

“It’s great to qualify for another Commonwealth Games,” Vella said. “They’re all special, especially this one being in Scotland. I have never been to Scotland so I’m really looking forward to that.”

Vella has won gold medals at each of his previous three Commonwealth Games appearances, and he took a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

“Gold is always the main goal,” he said. “If I can’t get gold I will take a silver and if I can’t get silver then I will take a bronze. That’s the way I am looking at it.”