By Jamie Strudley
Yarra Ranges Athletics athletes continued their winter form on Sunday morning at a sunny but cold Lake Wendouree in Ballarat. Round seven of the 2024 XCR season was the 15km road Championships on the fast, flat course.
Harry Norman won the state silver medal with a scintillating 15km time of 45 minutes 31 seconds. Harry used this race as preparation for the Australian Cross Country Championships in Launceston, Tasmania at the end of August.
Briar Keyser is another athlete heading to Launceston, again taking the opportunity for a fast race. Briar ran her 6km race in a very fast 22 minutes 26 seconds to also finish with the silver medal.
Other top 10 finishers on the day were Lily Clarke (fifth U14 Women), Maddie Laven (sixth U20 Women), Zoe Clarke (seventh U16 Women), Brienna Coffey (eighth U14 Women) and Mitch Pointon (ninth U16 Men).
Full club results are:
Results
Women Open 15km: Olivia Twining 22nd 56:44; Katrina Winger 35th 59:49; Georgia Laven 91st 1:08:32; Bonnie Morris 115th 1:13:36; Erica Purcell 150th 1:34:53;
Women Open 6km: Elisabeth Coffey 6th 29:14;
Women 20 6km: Briar Keyser 2nd 22:26; Madeline Laven 6th 23:42;
Women 16 6km: Zoe Clarke 7th 23:33;
Women 14 6km: Lily Clarke 5th 24:57; Brienna Coffey 8th 26:11; Adele Ellis 11th 30:59;
Men Open 15km: Harry Norman 2nd 45:31; James Laven 85th 51:15; Angus Norman 141st 53:46; Sam Arnold 163rd 54:37; Max Savill-Bentley 164th 54:43; Jared Byrne 206th 56:57; Michael Clarke 251st 59:24; Trent Ashton 289th 1:02:23; Craig Hewitson 385th 1:22:59;
Men 20 6km: Daniel Groves 20th 20:09;
Men 16 6km: Mitchell Pointon 9th 22:21; Blake Saloyedoff 15th 24:30;
Men 14 6km: Ilikimi Tove 11th 27:32;
Saturday morning cross country was the annual handicap day, where athletes start at different times with the aim of having everyone finishing at the same time. Always a fun event and again enjoyed by all.
This weekend YRA’s Little Athletics club members head to Myrniong for the LAVIC State Cross Country Championships. Good luck everyone.
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!
