By Jamie Strudley
Team Yarra Ranges Athletics travelled to Ballarat on Sunday for round 7 of the 2023 XCR series. The team returned some amazing performances led by an outstanding run from Brigette Rice. The annual event held around Lake Wendouree in Ballarat attracted over 600 athletes from throughout Victoria. The cool but calm conditions providing ideal opportunities for our team to shine.
Brigette Rice got the day off to a sizzling start with an outright win in the junior women 6km event. Brigette, competing in the U18 grade, stormed around the lap of the lake in 20.50 to finish 20 seconds clear of the next best female finisher. Maddie Laven raced her way to a win in the U20 women’s race. Both Brigette and Maddie will be representing Victoria at the upcoming Australian Cross Country Championships.
It was then the turn of our seniors to run two and a bit laps of the lake to complete the 15km road race championships. Max Savill-Bentley showed he is in great form heading into the Australian Half Marathon Championships next weekend with a 21st place run in 47.38 to lead our team to a seventh place finish in Division 2.
Olivia Twining continued her excellent XCR season with another club record running 55.57 for 12th place. Our team of Olivia, Abi Hyndman, Katrina Winger, Georgia Laven, Grace Muller and Lis Coffey had their best team result of the series with a second place to move them to second on the ladder.
Full results are:
15km:
Women Open Olivia Twining 55:57; Abi Hyndman 1:01:04; Katrina Winger 1:03:19; Georgia Laven 1:06:04; Grace Muller 1:08:21; Elisabeth Coffey 1:16:42;
Men Open Max Savill-Bentley 47:38; James Laven 51:22; Seamus Dwyer 51:55; Jared Byrne 55:46; Chris Grundy 55:51; Matthew Morrison 1:00:43; Michael Clarke 1:02:52; Graham Coutts 1:06:58; Logan Dutton 1:08:08; Bryan Ackerly 1:14:02;
6km
Women U20 Madeline Laven 22:51; Mia Strudley 27:03;
Women U18 Brigitte Rice 20:50;
Women U16 Zoe Clarke 22:32;
Women U14 Brienna Coffey 26:56; Lily Clarke 26:58;
Men U16 Mitchell Pointon 22:28
It was a fun morning at the annual Handicap Day for 2023. A new location for this year’s cross country event, with our runners taking to the course at Lillydale Lake, with all athletes chasing a spot on the podium! The format provides athletes not normally the fastest in their races with an opportunity to be first over the line based on a head start given to them by our club handicapper. The aim being to have athletes crossing the line together.
Thank you to the set up crew, course marshals and timers for a successful day. Well done to all the athletes for trying their best today. Podium results are:
500m Boys Equal Gold in a thrilling race, Finley Malcher and Angus Congreve.
500m Gold Emily Moore.
1000m Boys Gold Cody Buckland, Silver Byron Stark, Bronze Spencer Norman.
1000m Girls Gold Tillie Sommers, Silver Imogen McMillan, Bronze Lola Farmilo.
1500m Boys Gold Jake Buckland, Silver Micah Friend, Bronze Xander Sommers.
1500m Girls Gold Isla Haisma, Silver Caitlyn McKerlie, Bronze Hayley Nealon.
2000m Boys Gold Tobyn Harris, Silver Jonty Friend, Bronze Jay Burke.
2000m Girls Gold Mackenzie Graham, Silver Shazia Geisler, Bronze Meadow Anderson-Bonsor.
3000m Boys Gold Hamish McKerlie, Silver Zac McMillan, Bronze Ryder Holland.
3000m Girls Gold Brookley Horsburgh, Silver Elsie Mitchell.
3000m Men Gold Tim Anderson-Bonsor, Silver Bryan Ackerly.
3000m Women Gold Renee Horsley, Silver Katie Clarke.
Next week the Little Athletics team head to Lake Dewar for the Little Athletics Victoria State Cross Country Championships. There will not be a regular Saturday morning cross country, our next round being on 19 August at Margaret Lewis Reserve, Coldstream.
Training continues for all club members on Tuesday from 5.30pm at Morrison Reserve and Thursday evenings from 5.30pm at Victoria Road Primary School gym. Yarra Ranges Athletics welcomes and encourages all athletes of any age or ability.
If you, or someone you know, wants to join in the fun of cross country email info@yarrarangesathletics.org.au for information about events and registration.
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!
