YARRA Ranges Athletics athletes have had a very busy week with Schools Cross Country Championships, Athletics Victoria Cross Country Championships and Little Athletics Victoria Eastern Region Cross Country Championships.
Dave and Amanda Laven must be the proudest parents in the Yarra Valley this week with three of their children winning gold medals at the LAV Eastern Region Cross Country Championships held at Ruffey Lake, Doncaster on Sunday.
James Laven started the rout with a well-paced win in the 13 year boys’ three kilometres.
Next up was Maddie Laven with a dominant display in the eight year girls’ 1500m.
Finally, Georgia Laven gave her competitors no chance, winning her 10 year girls’ 1500m.
Other medallists had the silver go to Tess Patterson in 12 year girls’ two kilometres, silver to Lily Peacock in 11 year girls’ two kilometres, and bronze to the nine year girls’ team of Olivia de Vincentis, Ashleigh Gasson, Mia Strudley, Tayja Maki, Taylah Tillotson and Claire Noonan.
Tuesday saw many club athletes competing for their schools at the Eastern Region Schools Cross Country events at Yarra Glen.
Big fields in all races made medals hard to come by, however Ryan Patterson (first U17 Boys), Georgia Laven (second U11 Girls) and Lily Peacock (third U13 Girls) were medallists.
Bundoora Park was the venue for the Athletics Victoria Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
Stand out performances were James Laven and Harrison van Duuren in the U14 boys race and Tess Patterson in the U14 girls.
Andrew van Duuren continued his excellent season in the U16 boys’ four kilometres.
Brian Ackerly’s fifth in the 50-55 grade led the team in the men’s 12 kilometres Cross Country Championships followed by Michael Clarke, Andrew Butler, Jamie Strudley and Dave Laven.
The club is to be congratulated on entering a team in their first year of Athletics Victoria competition.
Next week the club will be at Knox Cross Country open day.
Those who have not already entered can go to www.yarrarangesathletics.org.au for a copy of the entry form with all club athletes and their parents are needed to compete.
A reminder to keep watching the website for details of the Lake Fun Run on 22 September.
Results from Bundoora Park Saturday 22 June 2013
Girls U14 3km: 36th Tess Patterson 12.01, 94th Emily Noonan 14.08; Boys U14 3km: 14th James Laven 10.20, 48th Harrison van Duuren 11.21; Boys U16 4km: 73rd Andrew van Duuren 16.14; Boys U17 6km: 1st Ryan Patterson 19.04; Mens Open 12km: 117th Brian Ackerly (5th 50-55) 46.56, 187th Michael Clarke 50.43, 201st Andrew Butler 51.18, 296th Jamie Strudley 56.53, 314th Dave Laven 58.06.
Results from Ruffey Lake, Doncaster Sunday 23 June 2013
8 Years girls 1500m: Madeline Laven 1st; 9 Years girls 1500m Olivia De Vincentis 5th, Ashleigh Gasson 10th, Mia Strudley 15th, Tayja Maki 20th, Taylah Tillotson 21st, Claire Noonan 27th; 10 Years girls 1500m Georgia Laven 1st; 10 Years boys 1500m Camden Hewitson 7th; 11 Years girls 2000m Lily Peacock 2nd, Ruby Dixon 8th, Ella Trevorrow 27th; 11 Years boys 2000m Olivia Duncan; 12 Years girls 2000m Tess Patterson 2nd, Rickylee Brown 8th, Lee Taylor 24th; 12 Years boys 2000m Daniel Gasson 5th; 13 Years girls 3000m Emily Noonan 19th, Tammarah Brown 35th; 13 Years boys 3000m James Laven 1st; 14 Years girls 3000m Amy Veenendaal 4th.
