By Casey Neill
More than 3000 athletes from around Victoria converged on Bundoora Park, Bundoora, on Saturday 15 June for the Victorian All schools Cross Country Championshipa and Victorian Open Cross Country Championships.
Bundoora Park was in very good condition considering heavy rain in previous days, providing for a tough but competitive course.
Yarra Ranges Athletics had a number of outstanding results from the day, with the standouts being silver medals to Maddie Laven (under-15 girls) and Harry Norman (under-20 men).
Other top 10 finishes came from Kiara Flavel, Mia Strudley, Grace Muller and James Laven.
Kellie Emerson was the standout performer in the open women’s 10 kilometre cross country with a sensational 30th place.
Yarra Ranges Athletics club results are:
Under-14 girls 3km: Ciara Willey 77th 13.16
Under-15 girls 4km: Maddie Laven 2nd 14.12, Kiara Flavel 4th 14.20
Under-16 girls 4km: Mia Strudley 6th 14.4, Jemima Wilson 22nd 16.39
Under-15 boys 4km: Thomas Dellow 22nd 14.26
Under-16 boys 4km: Noah Wright 19th 13.26, Angus Norman 23rd 13.32, Lachlan Nicholls 78th 16.24
Under-18 girls 4km: Georgia Laven 12th 15.12, Zoe Sibley 17th 15.31
Under-18 boys 6km: Harrison Van Duuren 29th 21.47, Camden Hewitson 75th 26.27
Under-20 womens 6km: Grace Muller 8th 24.21
Under-20 mens 8km: Harry Norman 2nd 26.12, James Laven 6th 26.49, Max Savill-Bentley 21st 29.06
Open womens 10km: Kiellie Emerson 30th 39.57, Veida Somerville 61st 42.44, Olivia Twining 66th 43.09, Erika Bedyn 147th 54.07
Open mens 10km: Paul Todd 156th 38.09, James Anderson 191st 39.34, Michael Clarke 216th 40.34, Graham Coutts 266th 42.43, Bryan Ackerly 329th 46.1, Craig Hewitson 361sy 48.42
There were also a number of other local school athletes competing, including:
Under-14 girls 3km: Darcey Roberts (Billanook Primary School) 10th 11.41, Julia Wright (Mount Evelyn Christian School) 79th 13.22
Under-14 boys 3km: Josh Sinclair (Mount Evelyn Christian School) 80th 12.21, Mawson Sunderland (Mount Lilydale Mercy College) 110th 13.08, Owen Payze (Mount Evelyn Christian School) 117th 13.24
Under-15 girls 4km: Scarlett Atkins (Mount Evelyn Christian School) 80th 22.19
Under-15 boys 4km: Eden Roberts (Oxley College) 14th 14.02, Caleb Nash (Mount Evelyn Christian School) 81st 18.07
Under-16 girls 4km: Sky Wilson (Mount Evelyn Christian School) 57th 22.19
Under-16 boys 4km: Baxter Hill (Mount Lilydale Mercy College) 91st 17.56
Under-17 boys 6km: Max Benson (Mount Lilydale Mercy College) 41st 22.42
Under-18 girls 4km: Kelly Whichell (Mount Lilydale Mercy College) 40th 16.57
The club’s regular Saturday morning cross country had some big fields, all enjoying the sunny conditions at Morrrison Reserve and the challenge of a personal best to earn a choccie frog.
There will not be a Saturday morning cross country next weekend.
The club’s Little Athletics athletes will compete at the Easter Metropolitan Region Cross Country Championships, while the seniors travel to Anglesea for the AV XCR Ekiden Relay.
The club welcomes all athletes of any age or ability.
For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit yarrarangesathletics.org.au.
