By Jamie Strudley
Yarra Ranges Athletics started week two of the AVSL playoffs aiming to make up ground on a dominant Preston Athletics Club, sitting in second position.
Despite some exceptional performances from Yarra Ranges athletes, the points differential was too great to claw back and win the flag. So we settle for second place which is still good enough to earn promotion to Div 3 in 2023-24. A fantastic effort from the entire club over a long season that began in early October 2022.
We now look forward to all the excitement of XCR23 with both our Open teams in Division 2.
Results from week two are:
Women
200m: Ashleigh Rooke 27.36 (-0.5); Zoe Clarke 28.49 (-0.7); Sasha Carroll 29.10 (-0.8); Rori Jones 29.26 (-0.7);
800m: Zoe Clarke 2:24.94; Kristina Nackovski 2:25.76; Mia Strudley 2:33.91; Rori Jones 2:36.14; Sasha Carroll 2:38.58; Ashleigh Rooke 2:43.60.
400m Hurdles: Rori Jones 73.81.
2000m Walk: Emilie Garside 12:50.81.
4x400m: (Zoe Clarke, Rori Jones, Ashleigh Rooke, Mia Strudley) 4:27.61.
Shot Put: Hayley Wilkins 9.30m; Sasha Carroll 9.08m; Ashleigh Rooke 9.03m; Sarah Ebbels 7.46m; Meg Sparkes 7.12m; Sharon Cook 6.48m; Anne-Marie Ebbels 5.93m; Emilie Garside 5.11m; Elisabeth Coffey 4.91m.
Hammer: Sarah Ebbels 33.75m; Anne-Marie Ebbels 26.30m.
Men
200m: Mitchell Mullens 23.01 (-3.1); Oliver Duncan 25.80 (-2.6); Liam Russell 26.03 (-0.9); Bailey Van Bert 26.58 (-2.6); Joseph Johnston 27.03 (-2.0); Craig Hewitson 29.26 (-2.3).
800m: Liam Russell 2:08.43; Bailey Van Bert 2:18.11; Mitchell Pointon 2:25.00; Craig Hewitson 2:28.16.
3000m: Max Savill-Bentley 8:58.37.
2000m Walk: Lucas Taylor 12:16.32.
4x400m: (Mitchell Mullens, Liam Russell, Bailey Van Bert, Craig Hewitson) 3:48.80; (Joseph Johnston, Mitchell Pointon, Max Savill-Bentley, Lucas Taylor) 4:21.97.
Hammer: Lucas Taylor 32.00m; Ash Almond 26.98m.
High Jump: Oliver Duncan 1.68m.
Shot Put: Ash Almond 8.80m; Lucas Taylor 8.74m; Craig Hewitson 7.17m.
Triple Jump: Liam Russell 10.89m; Ash Almond 9.81m (2.8); Liam Russell 10.89m; Craig Hewitson 7.64m.
The Little Athletics athletes were presented with end of season trophies and awards on Saturday morning. The club recognised outstanding performances and PB’s throughout the summer track and field season. Another fun morning with plenty of food and applause as each age group was presented. Special congratulations to our perpetual award winners:
Petra Sank – Acacia Anderson-Bonsor
Don Cruse – Tobyn Harris
Rob Belli – Uli Homann
Family Award – Yorke Family
Distinguished Service Award – Dannie McKinnon
Presidents Award – Kayla Cannon and Micah Friend
Congratulations also to our discipline awards winners:
Sprints – Jesse Pettet and Zoe Knapman
Throws – Ilikimi Tove and Georgia McKinnon
Jumps – Lanni Aborowa and Koby Stephens
Hurdles – Sasha carroll and Kristian Sultana
Distance – Bailey van Bert and Zoe Clarke
Walks – Baau McKinnon and Holly Yorke
Good luck to our four athletes heading to Brisbane next weekend for the Australian Open and U20 Track and Field Championships. We will watch with interest and excitement to see how Olivia Twining (3000m Steeplechase), Rori Jones (400m Hurdles), Harry Norman (5000m) and Joseph Johnston (Para 100m) go.
Training continues for all club members on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5.30pm with the emphasis changing to prepare for cross country. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability.
If you, or someone you know, wants to join in the Little Athletics fun registration is at www.lavic.com.au. 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!
