By JAMIE STRUDLEY
YARRA Ranges Athletics athletes competed in round seven of the Athletics Victoria XCR15 season on Saturday at the demanding Brimbank Park.
The event was the 123rd running of the Victorian 10-mile cross-country championships, held every year since 1892.
The course included the imposing climb up ‘Col de Brimbank’ made much easier by the cacophony of cow bells, vuvuzelas and other noises from spectators lining the course.
As is expected by all clubs throughout Victoria, the Yarra Ranges Athletics team loudly supported their fellow clubmates, especially when they needed it most.
Standout performance of the day was a convincing win by Ruby Dixon in the under-14 girls 4km race.
The win sealed a dominant season for Ruby, who also claimed the overall under-14 girls season title, a great effort by Ruby in one of the most competitive grades.
Ruby was chased all the way by Georgia Laven who finished second.
The club’s only other medallist from the day was James Laven in the under-16 boys 6km, finishing third, enough for James to secure the overall under-16 boys XCR15 title.
Special mention also to our club athletes making their individual debuts at an AV XCR event, well done to Jordan Brown (open men), Maddie Laven (under-14 girls) and Mia Strudley (under-14 girls).
Results from the day:
U14 boys 4km: Harrison Van Duuren 6th 14.22, Ryan Thrall 16th 16.14, Liam Russell 18th 17.26, Jayden Clarke 19th 17.38, Camden Hewitson 23rd 18.33.
U14 girls 4km: Ruby Dixon 1st 14.37, Georgia Laven 2nd 14.49, Maddie Laven 7th 15.35, Mia Strudley 12th 17.16, Zoe Sibley 17th 18.45.
U16 boys 6km: James Laven 3rd 20.44, Tynan Mims 14th 22.52.
U16 girls 6km: Lily Thompson 11th 24.49.
U18 girls 6km: Olivia Twining 10th 26.35, Amy Veenendaal 11th 30.37.
U18 boys 8km: Lachlan Scully 24th.
Men open 16km: Michael Clarke 132nd 1.02.38, Bryan Ackerly 155th 1.03.56, David Mims 217th 1.09.51, Justin Eagleton 225th 1.10.59, Jordan Brown 227th 1.11.09, David Seeds 237th 1.11.51, David Laven 251st 1.13.29, Jamie Strudley 255th 1.13.51, Gerard Thrall 292nd 1.21.16, Craig Hewitson 301st 1.22.32.
Women open 6km: Amanda Branson 55th 25.25, Amanda Laven 80th 26.31, Sue McCall 141st 30.32, Emma Wilton 151st 31.57.
The remainder of the club competed at the Cockatoo Hills Challenge on a very testing, wet course.
The club turned out in force again to retain the Hills Challenge team trophy.
Check out the website for results and photos.
Further afield, club athletes Lucas Taylor and Lee Taylor competed in the Victorian Road Walking Championships.
Both athletes recording excellent performances, Lucas claiming third place in the under-20 men’s 10km and Lee finishing sixth in the under-16 girls 5km.
Next week is a fun day/obstacle course challenge at Margaret Lewis Reserve from 8.45am.
Come dressed in your finest superstar or superhero costume for a fun, challenging and exciting morning of cross-country.
For photos, results and updated news, visit yarrarangesathletics.org.au or check out Facebook.
