Medals despite the wind

Georgia Laven, centre, has taken home two gold at the championships. 155151_01

By Jamie Strudley

YARRA RANGES ATHLETICS
YARRA Ranges Athletics’ attention was split this weekend with many of the athletes competing at the Victoria All Schools Championships held at a cold, wind-swept, Lakeside Stadium.
After day two of the three-day championship club members had won 11 medals including two gold to Lateisha Willis and Georgia Laven.
The windy conditions meant sprinters and jumpers recorded personal bests, however, the middle distance events were very tactical races with fast times hard to come by.
Results for club members after two days:
Under 18 Girls 5000m Walk Final – Emily Noonan second 30.15.55; Under 18 Girls 5000m Walk Final – Lee Taylor fifth 36.53.99; Under 15 Girls 100m Heat – Chelsea Thompson third 12.64; Under 16 Boys 100m Heat – Patrick Keating sixth 12.43; Under 15 Girls 1500m Heat – Georgia Laven first 5.18.44; Under 16 Girls 1500m Final – Lily Peacock third 5.04.52; Under 14 Boys 1500m Heat – Samuel Norton second 4.53.25; Under 14 Boys 1500m Heat – Zachariah Clarke fourteenth 5.32.36; Under 16 Boys 1500m Final – Harry Norman ninth 4.33.36; Under 14 Girls 400m Heat – Olivia De Vincentis fifth 65.55; Under 16 Boys Javelin Final – Cameron Brown fourth 28.30m – Under 14 Boys Triple Jump Final – Tayleb Willis third 11.53m; Under 14 Boys 200m Hurdles Heat – Tayleb Willis first 29.98; Under 17 Girls 100m Heat – Lateisha Willis first 12.18.
Updated results, including day three performances, will be on the club website as soon as possible.
With many athletes and parents at the All School’s Championships on Saturday morning, it was great to see so many parents step up to help with the many tasks that need to be done so our little athletes can enjoy a morning of athletics fun.
The cool, windy conditions did not deter the sea of smiling faces from running, jumping and throwing. The club looks forward to seeing everyone – athletes and parents – all back again next Saturday.
It will be a big day for the club next weekend as it hosts a round of AV Shield immediately after the conclusion of the Saturday morning athletics.
The club will be grateful for any members and parents who can help with set up and pack up during the day, anytime from 8am for littlies set-up to 6pm for pack up and all times in between.
Thankfully, everyone will get to relax afterwards as Sophie and the events team hold the trivia and karaoke night from 7.30pm.
If you have not booked a table yet, get your friends and neighbours together for a fun social night out and support the club’s major fundraising event of the year. There will also be plenty of seats at tables if you are flying solo.
For information, visit yarrarangesathletics.org.au or check out the Facebook page.