By Jamie Strudley
YARRA VALLEY ATHLETICS
THE final round of the XCR16 season was held at the Melbourne Botanical Gardens on Saturday morning.
Excellent weather conditions greeted 14 Yarra Ranges Athletics teams to the Tan Relays, held around the well-known Tan Track in Melbourne.
With many grade premierships still undecided, the quantity and quality of the teams entered was high.
Yarra Ranges Athletics were well placed in many division with very good hopes in Women’s Division 3, Women’s Division 5 and Men’s Under 14.
Over 320 teams entered the most competitive event on the XCR calendar.
Standout performances came from our younger teams with the Under 16 women winning, the Under 14 Boys finishing third and Under 14 girls finishing fourth.
It is always great to see our up and coming stars performing on the big stage.
The absolute highlight of the day was the debut performances from several ‘new’ members.
Great to see Kate Van Duuren, Graeme Woolridge, Maddie Button, Maddie Laven and Indigo Linde made to feel so comfortable and enjoy their first experience of running at an Av event. Well done and welcome.
Provisional results:
Women Divison 3 3rd Lily Thompson 15.13, Penny Neville 15.12, Amanda Laven 16.13, Amanda Branson 15.06.
Women Division 5(i) 5th Claire Knell 18.05, Judith May 15.51, Sarah Love 17.35.
Women Division 5(ii) 10th Erika Bedyn 20.03, Laura DiGregorio 19.50, Claire Knell 19.30.
Women Division 5(iii) 11th Sue McCall 17.52, Kate Van Duuren 21.35, Katie Clarke 19.52.
Women 20 6th Maddie Button 14.51, Sarah Lloyd 15.35, Olivia Twining 17.33.
Women 16(i) 1st Lily Peacock 14.31, Georgia Laven 14.11, Ruby Dixon 14.55.
Women 16(ii) 9th Grace Muller 16.12, Samantha DiGregorio 21.58, Zoe Sibley 16.49.
Women 14 4th Mia Strudley 17.42, Maddie Laven 15.43, Indie Linde 16.24.
Men Division 3 7th James Laven 13.21, Harrison Van Duuren 14.03, Jamie Strudley 14.03, Michael Clarke 14.08, Connor Thrall 13.45.
Men Division 5 5th Harry Norman 13.42, Riley Kennedy 14.35, Bryan Ackerly 14.34, Craig Hewitson 15.49.
Men Division 7(i) 9th Liam Russell 15.43, James Love 16.21, Gerard Thrall 18.03, Steve Blair 14.57.
Men Division 7(ii) 19th Jordan Brown 15.09, Justin Eagleton 16.00, Graeme Woolridge 20.53.
Men 16 11th Camden Hewitson 16.00, Alexander Van Duuren 19.21, Mitch Deckert 14.50.
Men 14 3rd Zac Clarke 15.44, Taj Linde 16.04, Samuel Norton 13.13.
The club has ended up with three premierships: Women Division 3, Women Division 4 and Men Under 14.
A fantastic result and well-earned reward to the hard work and commitment shown by these teams throughout the season.
A XCR premiership is not about being the best team every day, but about having A team each round.
The next club event is the opening round of the track and field season on October 8.
For information on how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the all new and improved website at yarrarangesathletics.org.au or check out the Facebook page.
