HEIDI KUPPLER WINS SECOND AUSTRALIAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

Eight members of the Diamond Valley Athletic Club competed at the 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships held at Mount Stromlo, Canberra on Saturday 26 August 2023. In a very successful campaign by all of the Valley athletes, the highlight was provided by Heidi Kuppler ‘s win in a thrilling race in the Girls 11 Years 3000m.

10 Year old Heidi won the School Sport Australia Girls 11 Years 3000m Championship in a time of 10:31. This made it back to back National titles for Heidi. In the 2022 School Sport Australia Girls 10 Years 2000m Cross Country Championship held at Oakbank Racecourse, South Australia Heidi won in a time of 7:25.

Heidi had to withstand constant challenges from start to finish. In the end, Heidi crossed the finish line 3 seconds ahead of the second placegetter with the third placegetter a further two seconds away. The win was a testament to Heidi’s talent and ability to focus under extreme pressure. Heidi was a member of the winning SSA Victorian team.

The venue for the Australian Cross Country Championships was the dedicated Cross Country course at Mount Stromlo, Canberra. While there were testing slopes on the course and the temperature for the later events was unusually warm for Cross Country, the athletes did appreciate the carpet like surface. To add to the challenge, race organisers put in four hay bale hurdles over a short stretch of the course.

There were nine members in the DVAC squad who competed at the 2023 Australian Cross Country Championships. This makes it one of the best results for a Winter season at the Valley.

In the Girls Under 14 3000m race, Matilda Johnson finished in 12^th position from a field of 84 in a time of 10:46. Matilda was a part of the Victorian team that won the Bronze medal in the Teams competition. In the same race, Grace Robinson gained her first experience at Nationals and finished in 48^th position in a time of 11:30.

Jordan Rudd, a T20 athlete, finished in 5^th position in a highly competitive field of the Men’s Para Under 20 3000m. Jordan went through the 1km mark in 3:10 and finished the 3000m in 11:04. Jordan was a member of the Victorian team that was the Bronze medal.

Rose Jarvis showed plenty of courage in getting to the start line for the Girls Under 15 4000m. Rose had battled to overcome a painful foot injury sustained at Myrniong the week before. Rose still managed to run the 4km course in a creditable 16:14.

Matilda L’Estrange, GU18, and Ally Brooks, GU17, made it the second event that DVAC had two competitors on the start line. Matilda finished in 16^th position in the GU18 field while Ally crossed in 48^th place in the GU17 race.

Ella Littlehales, GU18, raced up an age group due to her entry in the Under 20 race at the Victorian Championships at Bundoora. Ella still coped well with the extra challenge of having to run 6km at Mount Stromlo and completed the journey in 26:26.

William Quigley raced in the Men Under 14 3000m event and finished in 43^rd position. William, Ella Littlehales and Jordan Rudd have all come through the Craigieburn Little Athletics Centre.

2023 Australian Cross Country Championships

Stromlo Forest Park, Canberra

Saturday 26 August 2023

DVAC Results:

Girls:

11 Years SSVIC 3000m

Heidi Kuppler 10:31 1^st Field of: 42

Team Medal: SSVIC 1^st

Under 14 3000m

Matilda Johnson 10:46 12^th Field of: 84

Team Medal: VIC 3^rd

Grace Robinson 11:30 48^th Field of: 84

Under 15 4000m

Rose Jarvis 16:14 53^rd Field of: 74

Under 17 4000m

Ally Brooks 16:24 48^th Field of: 59

Under 18 4000m

Matilda L’Estrange 15:09 16^th Field of: 58

Under 20 6000m

Ella Littlehales 26:26 60^th Field of: 70

Boys:

Under 14 3000m

William Quigley 10:25 43^rd Field of: 79

Under 20 Para 3000m

Jordan Rudd (T20) 11:04 (34.04%) 5^th Field of: 14

Team Medal: VIC 2^nd