Jake Doran (athletics) is finally ready to make his Commonwealth Games debut after years of injury and hardship. Bursting onto the scene with what he deemed a ‘completely out of nowhere’ 10.15 sec 100m in Finland in 2018, the then 17-year-old was quickly touted as the ‘next big thing’ in Australian athletics. Having shaved 0.06 seconds off Jack Hale’s previous under-20 national record, selection for the Gold Coast 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Australian teams seemed all but guaranteed, before a series of injury setbacks. Missing the Commonwealth Games 2018 trials due to lumbar stress fractures, plus subsequent injuries to his hamstrings, shoulder ligaments and two broken feet, Doran chose to persevere, with Birmingham 2022 firmly in his sights. Working with dual Olympian and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Paul Di Bella, Doran has returned with vengeance and was recently crowned the fastest man in Oceania (10.19, June 2022). Doran is the inaugural recipient of the James Cook University Elite Athlete Scholarship, where he studies a bachelor’s degree of international business. He is also a licensed football scout and opposition analyst with the Professional Football Scouts Association.