By Jamie Strudley
Yarra Ranges Athletics athletes travelled to Cruden Farm, Langwarrin, on Saturday afternoon for Round 3 of the XCR18 season.
Cross country racing in near perfect conditions on a testing course, reknowned for the ‘mud’ hole.
The bog – as it eventually becomes – started out the day as a gentle flowing creek for the Under 14s races and ended as a treacherous obstacle for the Open Men’s.
Great to see the Yarra Ranges support team applauding every successful exit but clearly baying for ‘mud’ as each of the the 1000-plus athletes attempted to clear the bog.
Many shoes were lost or left behind.
Some fantastic results with medals to Georgia Laven, Lily Peacock, Harry Norman, Madddie Laven and Kiara Flavel.
Congratulations also to the fastest open Women’s and Men’s competitors, Georgia Brock and Seamus Dwyer, on their outstanding efforts to lead our teams to some solid results.
Unofficial results are:
Women U14 4km Madeline Laven 2nd 15.53 Kiara Flavel 3rd 16.17 Indigo Linde 6th 16.50 Piper Naismith 13th 18.39
Women U16 6km Mia Strudley 16th 25.03
Men U16 6km Angus Norman 15th 21.34
Women U18 6km Georgia Laven 1st 21.20 Lily Peacock 2nd 21.26 Grace Muller 12th 23.50 Zoe Sibley 16th 24.49
Men U18 8km Harry Norman 2nd 26.24 Liam Russell 32nd 36.19 Camden Hewitson 33rd 37.21
Men U20 6kmJames Laven 13th 20.39 Max Savill-Bentley 16th 21.06
Open Women 12km Georgia Brock 34th 51.25 Judy May 46th 53.10 Sarah Love 90th 59.16 Erika Bedyn 126th 1.05.53 Alexis Sketchley 132nd 1.08.11 Kathryn Clarke 133rd 1.08.27
Open Men 12km Seamus Dwyer 120th 45.28 James Anderson 148th 47.01 Andrew Searles 154th 47.18 Sam Pike 189th 48.47 Michael Clarke 202nd 49.06 Graham Coutts 209th 49.23 Bryan Ackerly 235th 50.55 Joel Johnson 256th 52.12 Jamie Strudley 291st 54.33
The regular Saturday Morning cross country was at a sun-baked Morrison Reserve.
Plenty of PBs, and, therefore, choccie frogs, were earned.
Next the club has three teams entered into the LAV Cross Country Relays at Cruden Farm.
Good luck to athletes representing the club in what will be a fun event.
Saturday morning cross country will be at Lillydale Lake.
