Pointon retains national title, athletes rack up PBs at season’s end

Ash Almond competing in the Javelin competition. (Supplied)

By Jamie Strudley

The 2024-25 Track and Field season is nearing the end but this does not mean our Yarra Ranges Athletics athletes stop chasing PBs.

Thursday night, the club had seven athletes competing at the final round of the Vic Milers season with all seven recording either a PB or season best. The standout performance came from Daniel Gibbs, breaking the Mens 40+ club record over 1500m running 4.45.14.

Vic Milers results are:

Women

800m: Zoe Clarke 2:20.57; Brienna Coffey 2:25.13;

1500m: Olivia Twining 4:41.29; Brigitte Rice 4:51.64;

Men

800m: Craig Hewitson 2:31.32;

1500m: Blake Saloyedoff 4:42.43; Daniel Gibbs 4:45.14;

A Yarra Ranges Athletics athlete retained his Australian Open Mens Laser Run Championship title on Saturday evening. Mitch Pointin, competing on his home track at Mt Evelyn stormed away from his competition to win by 45 seconds. Laser Run is part of the Modern Pentathlon suite of events, but is also a standalone event with the World Championships to be held in South Africa later this year. The event involves running up to 3km broken up into 5 x 600m runs and 4 shoots. Other Yarra Ranges club athletes competing also won National medals. Jasper Loch won the Men U15 event. Team mate Ryker Beekof finished in third place to claim the bronze medal. The championships were hosted by the Yarra Ranges Athletics club. The event organisers were delighted with the event they presented.

“It showcased all that our venue has to offer and provided all athletes with a world-class competition,” they said.

Athletes from throughout the country attended as well as competitors from New Zealand and Germany.

The club had several athletes competing at the Victorian Masters Championships over the weekend. Results are:

Lauren Nankervis(W30) Javelin 18.93m (1st); Long Jump 3.92m (0.5) (1st);

Candice Revuelta (W40) 60m 09.54 (1.1) (2nd); 100m 15.50 (-0.7) (2nd); 200m 33.24 (1.2) (2nd);

Carolyn Rosenbrock (W60) 3000m Walk 17:21.14 (1st);

Ash Almond (M30) 1500m Walk 11:52.67 (1st); Discus 28.17m (1st); Hammer 25.38m (1st); Javelin 51.02m (1st);

Shot Put 9.28m (1st); Weight Throw 8.56m (1st);

Pete Willmott (M55) 60m 09.41 (0.8) (5th); 100m 15.28 (1.2) (8th); 200m 32.84 (3.7) (P); 800m 3:00.03 (6th);

Discus 22.28m (3rd); Hammer 18.12m (4th); Javelin 29.07m (3rd); Shot Put 8.07m (5th)

Our Little Athletics competition continued on Saturday with our penultimate round of the season. Great to see so many athletes chasing more PBs. Next Saturday is the final round of competition, the last opportunity to get a PB.

Training for our little athletes 5-12yo takes place on Tuesdays from 4-5pm with event-specific training (where possible) for those competing at State championships. All registered and trial members are welcome. Please check our website for more training session details.

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 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.