XCR 25 Round 3 Jells Park

This was the first for most if not all of us that the Relays at Jells Park was not round 1 but it was still a huge day. Whilst the weather threatened to be a very wet affair, we were lucky, the rain stayed away and conditions were very pleasant in the end. Highlights for the day were our Premier Men winning again, for the first time at Jells Park, and our Premier women on the podium in a relay for only the second time and first time at Jells Park. It was also great to see so many new faces amongst the open and especially junior’s ranks. Thanks for all those who helped out in the morning to get it all sorted and for our two AV helpers, Peter Boyle and Bec Bassos.

Open Men

It was another powerful and consistent performance from our Premier men. First leg for the team was Liam Cashin who ran the second fastest time of the day in the 6km, finishing in 17 minutes and 45 seconds. Callum Drake and Brandon Muscat held the team in third place in the second and third legs then Ben Chamberlain, in the 4th leg, gave the team a slender lead. Zyad Al Sayd extended the lead giving Cody Shanahan a handy lead and eventually finishing first with nearly two minutes lead ahead of second placed Bendigo Region. As with other years, the relays were very well subscribed and despite our relatively strong teams the Div 3 were 8th, Div 5 finished solidly in 4th place, the Div 6 was 6th and the Div 7 was 11th.

Ladders

Premier - 1st

Div 3 - 3rd

Div 5 - 2nd

Div 6 - 2nd

Div 7 - 5th

Open Women

We had many women competing with a few new members also this round. As a result, we had full teams and some very solid results. From our Premier women’s team, it was a great result with their second medal (3rd) and first time on the podium at Jells Park. Janae Mackrell was first to run but it was junior U18 Leanne Ellis, in her debut for the Premier team, who ran the fastest time, completing the 6km course in 22 minutes and 8 seconds. Third leg was Ebony Dodemaide handing to new recruit Celia Boyle with Sophie McMinimee finishing for the team. The Div 3 finished strong in 3rd place, the Div 4 and Div 5 were 7th. Special thanks to Leanne Ellis (U18) and Sofia Mbote (U18) who assisted our open divisions to their successes.

Ladders

Premier - 5th

Div 3 - =3rd

Div 4 - 5th

Div 5 - 8th

Juniors

Our best result for the day was from our U20s Men’s team finishing second. Alex Cameron-Smith was first and fastest finishing the 6km in 19 minutes and 22 seconds. Aiden Muscat ran the middle leg with Jackson Wright finishing for the team. In the U18s team it was Steven Morgan leading handing to Bon Martin then Emerson Arnold finished with the team in a very creditable 7th place in a huge field of 18 full teams!! In the U16 men’s team of Isaac French Ishaan Burgu and Felix Marchant, in his debut, did very well finishing midfield in what was also a very large field of full teams.

In the women’s we field two U16s teams, many running for their first time. Both teams finished together in 11th and 12th place. Congratulations and welcome to Hasel Hew, Yuka Hong, Willow McCarthy and Kalani Kaye.

Ladders

Men U20 - 2nd

Men U18 - 5th

Men U14 - 6th

Female U18 - 6th

Female U16 - 6th