Relays action was close

Yarra Ranges athletics went ahead over the weekend despite the cold and wet weather conditions. Picture: SUPPLIED

A cold, windy Sandown Park was where the action was on Saturday as Athletics Victoria held round 5 of the XCR season.

Always an athlete favourite, the road relays around the motor racing circuit provide for fast conditions despite bleak conditions…and it was cold there!

Our Men’s team, competing in Division 2, ran the division leaders close eventually just missing out on a victory by 3 seconds (about 15 metres). Led by an outstanding opening leg from Harry Norman, recording

the days 6 th fastest time of 18.29, we knew the team was in a battle with Sandringham from the gun.

Strong legs from Max Savill-Bentley, Reuben Johnson and Angus Norman has us within 2 seconds of the dominant Sandringham squad after 4 of the 6 legs. Tynan Mims ran a blinder to record 18.43 to then gave James Laven a 16 second lead going into the final 6.2km leg.

JL gave everything he had but could not hold out a strong finish from the Sandringham team. Easily our best team performance of the year and one that will have Sandringham watching over their shoulders in coming rounds.

Our second men’s team of Sam Arnold, Luke Hunter, Daniel Groves and Matt Morrison were too good for other teams in their division, winning by a convincing 2.49 minutes while a third team ran exceptionally well to finish 7 th in a competitive Div 7 grade.

Our women’s team was missing some of the regular members, but the enthusiasm and commitment of those selected was evident to see. A strong start from Olivia Twining was backed up by an awesome run from Katrina Winger, Bonnie Morris continued her outstanding form keep the team in the mix heading into the final leg. Rori Jones battled hard to the finish to record her best result of the season, anchoring the team to a surprised third place finish.

Our Div 4 women’s team of Lis Coffey, Carolyn Rosenbrock and Erica Purcell ran extremely well to bring the team home in 6th place in their 3 x 6.2km relay event.

Our juniors only hard to run 1 3.1km lap of the circuit with our women’s U20 and U14 teams both running well. Our Under 20 team of Maddie Laven, Brigette Rice and Zoe Clarke finished in a very close 4 th place, while our Under 14 girls finished 7th .

Unfortunately we had some late withdrawals in our Men’s U16 team leaving Kimi Tove the only athlete running. Kimi ran a strong leg, finishing in 21 st position.

Full results are:

Female Open Div 2 4×6.2km 3 rd

Olivia Twining: 22:39, Katrina Winger: 23:33, Bonnie Morris: 26:45, Rori Jones: 27:02

Female Open Div 4 3×6.2km 6 th

Elisabeth Coffey: 30:45, Carolyn Rosenbrock: 30:40, Erica Purcell: 37:38

Female Under 20 3×3.1km 4 th

Madeline Laven: 11:12, Brigitte Rice: 11:12, Zoe Clarke: 11:56

Female Under 14 3×3.1km 7 th

Adele Ellis: 13:38, Lily Clarke: 13:45, Brienna Coffey: 13:50

Men Open Div 2 6×6.2km 2 nd

Harry Norman: 18:29, Max Savill-Bentley: 19:22, Reuben Johnson: 20:31, Angus Norman: 20:36, Tynan

Mims: 18:43, James Laven: 19:04

Men Open Div 6 4×6.2km 1 st

Sam Arnold: 22:08, Luke Hunter: 21:17, Daniel Groves: 21:53, Matthew Morrison: 22:52

Men Open Div 7 4×6.2km 7 th

Craig Hewitson: 30:51, Bryan Ackerly: 29:18, Michael Clarke: 24:35, Trent Ashton: 24:49

Men Under 16 3×3.1km 21 st

Ilikimi Tove: 12:52

Our Saturday morning cross country was at a very cold Margaret Lewis Reserve in Coldstream. School

holidays and the cold conditions meant for lower numbers but no less effort of enthusiasm. Great to see

everyone improving and earning more chocolate Frogs for a course PB.

Next Saturday is round 11 at Elizabeth Bridge, Kilsyth. See you there from 8.45 for warm ups! Anyone

wanting to help set up please arrive earlier.

Results from round 9 at Lilydale Lake were:

500m

Daisy Murphy 3.03; Maisie McLeod 3.23; Silas Dawson 3.23; Emily Cooke 3.36; Pippa Stark 4.1

1000m

Ivy Ingle 5.23; Elliott Dawson 5.56; Angus Congreve 6.09; Jasper Dean 6.23; Harper Higham 6.38; Isla

Higham 6.39; Aaron Zuo 6.55; Taylor Cox 7.07; Willliam Hastewell 7.27

1500m

Milly Hall 6.41; Victoria James 7.01; Etta Thoma 7.43; Tillie Sommers 7.52; Georgia Cooke 7.59; Iola

MacKay 8; Tahlia Dawson 8.3; Winter Anderson-Bonsor 8.36

2000m

Theodore Lewis 8.53; Ilikimi Tove 8.54; Xander Sommers 9.18; Hugo Gibbs 9.27; Caitlyn McKerlie 9.42;

Lexi Aders 9.44; Tess Hewatt 10.12; Pippa Congreve 10.32; Dominic Nealon 10.45; Alice Sabo 10.59; Zuri

Dawson 11.35; Kirsten McKerlie 11.47; Eamon MacKay 11.54; Meadow Anderson-Bonsor 12.14; Ashleigh

Christian 13.49

3000m

Tim Anderson-Bonsor 12.57; Brienna Coffey 14.06; Mackenzie Graham 14.22; Adele Ellis 14.32; Bryan

Ackerly 14.32; Tori Kincaid 14.44; Elizabeth Coffey 15.53; Bradley McMeeken 17.11; Bethany Vine 17.19;

Charlotte Strachan 17.27; Archie Budin 12.34

Tess H competed in the latest round of the Victorian Road Walking series on Saturday 22 nd June. Tess,

competing in the Under 11 Girls 1500m walk, finished in an outstanding 7 th place, recording 10.47. Nice

work Tess.

Cross country training for all club members is at Morrison Reserve on Tuesday evenings from 5.30pm and

Thursdays from 5.30pm at the Victoria Road Primary School gym. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and

encourages all athletes of any age or ability. New members and anyone interested in trialling are always

welcome

Go to www.lavic.com.au or www.athsvic.org.au or email info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au for

information about events and registration.

For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the website at

yarrarangesathletics.org.au