XCR Round 6 XC State Championships, Ballarat
This year AV moved the Victorian Cross Country Championships to Victoria Park, Ballarat. Whilst the course was relatively flat, a far cry from the Bundoora course, it was a good course with positive feedback on the day. There were some challenges, mostly due to its slippery and soft surface in places, with a number of faster athletes taking a tumble, and without the hills it made for a fast course.
Our numbers were well down this round, especially with our open men and junior squads. Our open women did very well with the Premier women’s team finishing third again.
Thanks again to the Muscats for bringing the marquees, Phil Cameron-Smith and Mal Hodgart as our AV helpers and all those who brought the afternoon tea.
Open Women
Our women’s numbers were down a little on previous rounds but then so were the overall numbers in the open women’s competition, and in the end our women’s teams did well. The Premier team did well with Celia Boyle first in, finishing 10th overall, in a time of 37 minutes and 26 seconds. Janae Mackrell was not far behind then Sophie McMinimee, Abigail Thomas with Nardine Bainbridge breaking back into the team. Our Div 3 was third and the Div 4 was second. Special thanks to U20 Bella Keogh who raced an extra 4km to compete in the Open 10km event. Some very solid performances in the 6km Short Course event with Carolyn Huell 2nd in the 55+ and Janice Hodgart 2nd in the 60+. The ladders are looking good for our Premier team on target for a 3rd, and best ever result, and a promotion in the Div 3.
Ladders
Premier Women - =3rd
Div 3 - 2nd (Promotion Zone)
Div 4 - 3rd
Div 5 - 5th
Short Course - 2nd
Open Men
Compared with previous rounds, our numbers were dramatically down with only 13 athletes. This meant we struggled in the teams’ results, not so much with our premier team, where there was sufficient depth in the Premier team to deliver a 4th place. First in was Liam Cashin in a time of 30 minutes and 46 seconds, then a superb run from Brandon Muscat in his highest finish in the open men’s in 14th place overall. Callum Drake was next with Nathan Pearce just behind. Leo Heading put in a great race also lifting around 30 places on his last race and Dan Velardo rounded out the team and also lifting around 40 places. Our Div 3 suffered with an 8th place as did the Div 5 with an incomplete team in 9th place. In the overage competition, Peter Boyle was again 4th in the 40+. Overall, the ladders have not changed much but we will be looking to bounce back from these low numbers in the last 3 rounds.
Ladders
Premier - 1st
Div 3 - =3rd
Div 5 - 2nd (Promotion Zone)
Div 6 - 4th
Div 7 - 5th
Short Course -
Juniors
Our juniors numbers were also well down with only one complete team, although this will be the first year that there have been U14 to U18 juniors with separate event for State Championships.. Best result of the day was Leanne Ellis’ second place in the women’s U18 6km in a time of 21 minutes and 48 seconds. In the men’s U20 8km, Alex Cameron-Smith was 5th in a time of 25 minutes and 48 seconds. In the men’s U18 6km Steven Morgan ran well finishing 10th in a time of 20 minutes and 53 second with Emerson Arnold not far behind. In the men’s U16 Ryder Deans made his return to racing with a tenth place and in the Men’s U14 3km, and our only full team result, Isaac French was 5th in a time of 10 minutes and 25 seconds with Darcy Beston and Roman Jaszweski both running well with the team in 4th place. In the women’s U16 3km Hasel Hew was 13 minutes and 30 seconds with new member Mila Gatt running her first race with Western Aths.
Ladders
Men U20 - 7th
Men U18 - 4th
Men U14 - 7th
Women U18 - 7th
Women U16 - 5th
