By Jamie Strudley
The final round of XCR24 was held on Saturday morning at the Tan Track in Melbourne. The cold, wet conditions did not dampen the excitement and enthusiasm of our Yarra Ranges Athletics athletes. Four teams with a chance of a team win and vying for points that might secure promotion for 2025, the tension and nerves were high.
The Open Women’s team started the day one point behind Division 2 leaders, Bendigo. Victory over the Bendigo quartet would secure promotion to Division 1 for 2025. The team of Maddie Laven, Zoe Clarke, Katrina Winger and Briar Keyser took to the relay event around the famed Tan Track with nervous excitement, so too did the Bendigo team.
In a close race the Bendigo team claimed the win with YRA’s courageous team finishing second. They will be back in 2025 to again seek promotion to Division 1.
The men’s team started the day in third place on the Division 2 ladder behind Sandringham and Frankston. A dominant Sandringham team had already secured the division win and promotion before this round, so their goals were to try to win the 6 x 1 lap relay and climb to second on the ladder.
Harry Norman and Tynan Mims both ran scintillating times for the opening two laps to have us well placed. Max Savill-Bentley ran another solid lap to have YRA leading at the halfway stage. Sandringham and Frankston then showed their depth with some very strong athletes on legs four and five. Despite a blistering final lap from James Laven we eventually finished a very close third, only 17 seconds adrift of Frankston.
It concluded another very strong, successful season for our Open Men’s team, consistently finishing in the top three in every round and Harry Norman winning the Individual Champion Athlete award. Another solid off-season and we will again challenge for a division win and promotion to Division 1.
The men’s Division 6 team again showed the depth within our club. Although only managing a second place finish for the four lap relay, the team finished the season with three division wins, and multiple top three finishes to secure the Division 6 pennant and promotion to Division 5 for 2025.
The women’s Under 20 team finished the season in second place behind a strong Essendon team. With most of YRA’s U20 team competing in the Open Women’s team this week they did not field a team in the U20 grade, but still held second place overall. Briar Keyser had an outstanding debut cross country season, securing the Overall Individual Under 20 Champion as well as a top 15 finish at the Australian Championships.
YRA also welcomed two new athletes to the YRA Crew family. Adrian Vosk and Jeremy de Groot had their debut runs, look forward to seeing you in YRA colours again.
Tan relay results are:
Female Open Division 2 4×3.83km: 2nd (Madeline Laven: 14:26, Zoe Clarke: 15:08, Katrina Winger: 14:30, Briar Keyser: 14:22) 58:26;
Female Open Division 4 3×3.83km: 8th (Bonnie Morris: 16:14, Elisabeth Coffey: 18:58, Rori Jones: 16:02) 51:14;
Female 14 3×3.83km: 7th (Adele Ellis: 17:50, Lily Clarke: 16:23, Brienna Coffey: 16:43) 50:56;
Male Open Division 2 6×3.83km: 3rd (Harry Norman: 11:05, Tynan Mims: 11:21, Max Savill-Bentley: 11:41, Angus Norman: 12:47, Reuben Johnson: 12:42, James Laven: 11:43) 1:11:19;
Male Open Division 6 4×3.83km: 2nd (Daniel Groves: 12:40, Jared Byrne: 13:19, Liam Russell: 13:12, Michael Clarke: 14:50) 54:01;
Male Open Division 7 4×3.83km: 5th (Trent Ashton: 14:53, Matthew Morrison: 14:42, Mitchell Pointon: 13:57, Blake Saloyedoff: 15:58) 59:30;
Male Open Division 7 4×3.83km: 8th (A. Vosk: 14:07, J. de Groot: 16:39, Bryan Ackerly: 18:01, Craig Hewitson: 17:28) 1:06:15
A couple of weeks off before we are back into the fun on the track and field season, which starts on 5 October. Registrations are now open on the Athletics Victoria and Little Athletics Victoria websites.
Training for all club members is at Morrison Reserve on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30pm. 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 membership, 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!
