By Jamie Strudley
The Victorian Cross Country Championships were held on the Bundoora Park Cross Country course on Saturday. A full day of cross country racing including the Victoria All Schools Championships and Victorian Open, U20 and Overage championships.
Traditional cross country conditions made for some interesting, challenging racing for all athletes. Yarra Ranges Athletics had club athletes in most events on the day. Special shout out to Michael Clarke who stood in the cold and rain for the afternoon to cover a club duty.
Standout results were from Harry Norman, Olivia Twining and Briar Keyser. Harry finished in eighth place in the Open Men’s 10km event, the club’s first ever top 10 finish in an open cross country championship.
Olivia Twining ran one of her best ever championship races, never far from the lead group finishing in 17th place in the Open Women’s 10km event. Bria Keyser finished a strong 15th in the Under 20 Women’s event and ninth in the All Schools event.
Other standout results were from Brigitte Rice, finishing 12th in the U18 women’s race and Reuben Johnson finishing 11th in the Under 20 All Schools 8km event and 22nd out of all Under 20 athletes.
Full club results are:
Women Open 10km: Olivia Twining 17th 38:58; Katrina Winger 36th 42:06; Bonnie Morris 70th 45:46; Georgia Laven 77th 46:28;
Women Open 6km: Elisabeth Coffey 7th 31:10; Erica Purcell 18th 39:12;
Women U20 6km: Briar Keyser 15th (9th Schools) 24:34; Madeline Laven 17th 24:47;
Women 18 4km: Brigitte Rice 12th 16.01
Women 17 4km: Kristina Nackovski 42nd 20.11
Women 16 4km: Zoe Clarke 19th 16.26
Women 15 4km: Tori Kincaid 55th 20.05
Women 14 3km: Brienna Coffey 73rd 13.15; Adele Ellis 82nd 13.32: Lily Clarke 85th 13.40
Men Open 10km: Harry Norman 8th 31:35; Tynan Mims 24th 32:30; Max Savill-Bentley 30th 32:41; James Laven 45th 33:27; Angus Norman 117th 36:41; Jared Byrne 203rd 40:58; Michael Clarke 227th 42:30; Chris Grundy 245th 43:30; Trent Ashton 272nd 45:18; Bryan Ackerly 319th 51:39; Craig Hewitson 335th 58:34;
Men U20 8km: Reuben Johnson 22nd (11th schools) 27:26; Daniel Groves 37th (25th Schools) 28:59
Men 17 6km: James Chrome-Smith 55th 22.34
Men 16 4km: Mitch Pointon 43rd 15.02
Men 15 4km: Finn Rossthorn 80th 17.58
Men 17 Para 3km: Bradley McMeeken 3rd 16.45
The School Sport Victoria State Cross Country Championships were held at Yarra Glen on Thursday. There were plenty of Yarra Ranges Athletics club athletes competing for their respective schools. Standout was Reuben Johnson winning the Boys 17-20 5000m event. Full results are not available in time for publication.
Eastern Region Little Athletics cross Country Championships were held last weekend and Doncaster. A large number of club athletes competed with all athletes performing extremely well. Results are:
10 Girls 1.5km: Victoria James 3rd 06:17; Milly Hall 10th 06:48; Amelia Sketchley 11th 06:50; Etta Thoma 20th 07:25; Indi Budin 21st 07:37;
11 Girls 2km Caitlyn McKerlie 5th 08:53; Zoe Knapman 8th 09:23; Tess Hewatt 9th 09:24; Alice Sabo 11th 09:54; Isla Haisma 12th 10:05;
12 Girls 2km Pippa Congreve 9th 08:53; Lexi Aders 10th 09:02; Holly Yorke 11th 09:24;
13 Girls 3km Brienna Coffey 7th 13:26; Lily Clarke 11th 14:09; Janna Rodriguez 12th 14:27;
14 Girls 3km Tori Kincaid 2nd 14:06;
15 Girls 3km: Zoe Clarke 1st 12:33;
16 Girls 3km: Kristina Nackovski 1st 14:49;
9-10 Para 1.5km: Micah Friend 1st 11:10;
13-17 Para 2km: Bradley McMeeken 1st 11:09;
9 Boys 1.5km: Riley Yorke 17th 09:52;
11 Boys 2km: Archie Budin 4th 07:39; Theodore Lewis 18th 08:45;
12 Boys 2km: Ilikimi Tove 8th 08:22; Hugo Gibbs 13th 09:15;
14 Boys Mason James 3rd 12:47;
15 Boys 3km: Mitchell Pointon 3rd10:59;
Brienna Coffey 13:26; Tori Kincaid 14:06; Lily Clarke 14:09; Janna Rodriguez 14:27; Kristina Nackovski 14:49;
Saturday morning cross country was on a wet Elizabeth Bridge course in Kilsyth. Lots of fun had by all who ran. Unofficial results are:
1000m Angus Clarke 5.30; Angus Congreve 5.44; Noah Hewatt 6.00; Willliam Hastewell 7.53
1500m Riley Yorke 6.30; Lucas Pauly 6.33; Brock Peel 6.52; Amelia Sketchley 7.07; Fletcher Norman 7.50; Sadie Hewatt 7.51; Iola MacKay 7.55; Spencer Norman 8.27; Winter Anderson-Bonsor 9.08; Micah Friend 10.50
2000m Samuel Thomas 7.09; Holly Yorke 8.31; Pippa Congreve 8.34; Hugo Gibbs 8.34; Lexi Aders 8.48; Dominic Nealon 9.10; Alice Sabo 9.24; Tess Hewatt 9.34; Jonty Friend 9.43; Eamon MacKay 10.23; Hugh Richardson 11.05; Meadow Anderson-Bonsor 11.09; Ashleigh Christian 12.14;
3000m Cozy Dunlop 13.02; Riley Tancredi 13.12; Levi Kipchirchir 14.09; Mackenzie Graham 14.14; Tim Anderson-Bonsor 14.33; Hayley Corrigan 18.01;
This weekend we return to Morrison Reserve for round 12 of the cross country season. Warm ups from 8.45am.
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 or check us out on Facebook. Run, Jump, Throw…too easy!
