Local athletes shine in statewide competition

Yarra Ranges Athletics Club''s 1500m women''s team.

By Jamie Strudley

Yarra Ranges Athletics Club’s Little Athletics enjoyed a “Bring a Friend” day with good numbers attending.

The club’s senior athletes arrived early to join their Little Athletics colleagues for a club photo.

This saw the entire club get together and inspire each other to athletic success.

The senior athletes hosted a round of the AVSL (Athletics Victoria Shield League), a statewide competition held at five different venues each weekend.

Yarra Ranges Athletics seniors joined over 400 other athletes from throughout Victoria for the competition on home turf.

Highlights of the day were in the 4x400m relays where the club won all four relays.

The team finished second overall, against points scored by athletes at all five venues, the club’s best result so far this season.

Yet again, several club records were broken including the Open Men 4×400 record broken twice with the fastest time being 3.46.63 by Hayden Rooke, Patrick Keating, Camden Hewitson and Harrison Van Duuren.

Other records to Ashleigh Rooke (W16 Discus 22.93m), Ashleigh Rooke, Mia Strudley, Madeline Laven, Ciara Willey (W16 4×400 Relay 4.27.45), Emerson Field (110m hurdle 12.50) and James Laven (M20 1500 4.14.6).

Twelve of the club’s athletes represented their school at the School Sport Victoria State Track and Field Championships.

A total of 17 medals were won by Ashlin Walker (Bronze), Georgia Laven (2 Golds and 1 Bronze), Hayley Wilkins (Bronze), Indigo Linde (Bronze), Kiara Flavel (2 Golds), Lily Peacock (1 Gold and 2 Silver), Maddie Laven (2 Silver), Matisse Gardiner (Bronze) and Mia Strudley (2 Silver and 1 Bronze).

Sixteen club athletes will represent their school at the Victoria All Schools Track and Field Championships this weekend.

The club wishes good luck to all athletes involved.

Tickets are now available for the club’s 50th anniversary celebration evening at Easter Golf Club.

There will not be any door sales for this event so visitors should buy tickets early.

The club also has its 50th anniversary clothing range available, currently at a discounted rate thanks to sponsors.

Next weekend is program three for little athletes. Warm up at 8.45am with the first event starting at 9.00am.

This is a day of relay running representing the club against other Little Athletics clubs in the Eastern region and will start to build teams for the region relays coming up next month.

Registration is open for both Little Athletics (lavic.com.au) and the senior team via Athletics Victoria (athsvic.org.au).

For information on training, how to join or trial, photos, results and updated news, visit the website at yarrarangesathletics.org.au or check it out on Facebook.