MURRAY FAMILY ATTACK ON VALLEY RECORDS
Two Diamond Valley Athletic Club records in the 10,000m event, fell to sister and brother athletes, Shania & Caden Murray at the 2023 edition of the Willinda Classic, an evening program of distance running at Willinda Park. Para athlete, Dillon Vidanapathirana, T20, established a DVAC club record with his high quality performance in the inaugural running of the All Classes 1000m event. Matilda Johnson, WU13, lowered her own club record for the 3000m. These were only four of the many highlights on a well organised and well run six race program that attracted 68 athletes to the local track on an ideal evening for racing.
Shania Murray completed the Open Women’s 10,000m track race in 36:30 to lower the previous DVAC club record of 38:06 set by Lyn Davis. While Shania has come off a series of quality results over the Winter season, this was her first 10,000m track race. Shania has her sights set on running well at her first marathon, the Melbourne Marathon, in three weeks’ time and she should draw confidence from her run at Willinda Park. Naomi Christensen was second in 44:51, and Rachel Paterson crossed in third place in 44:51.
Caden Murray went into the 2023 Willinda Classic with a pb of 32:37.2, recorded at the same event a year earlier. Hopeful of lowering that mark, Caden set off with serious intent, settling down to a series of kilometres that stayed around 3’03” for a good part of the race. Challenged by Yarra Ranges athlete, Max Savill-Bentley until the middle stages of the race, Caden gradually opened up a lead that increased over the final kilometres. Caden completed the 25 lap journey in 30:34.7, taking over two minutes off his pb and setting a new club record for the 10,000m Track event. Caden ran the second 5000m of the Willinda Classic in 15:10, just outside his best time of 15:07. He is now keen to do well at the Victorian 5000m Championships coming up in November.
Minor placegetters in the Men’s 10,000m race were Max Savill-Bentley, second in 31:35.4 and Kaleb Laker, third in 32:28.2.
The Women Under 16 3000m was a high quality affair with a club record set and several other personal best times. For a good half of the race the lead pack of five runners stayed tightly grouped together with Matilda Johnson making most of the moves. From the mid-point of the race Matilda slowly established her authority over the field and she crossed in 10:30.7 to lower her previous best of 10:37.11 recorded in April 2023. Box Hill athlete, Monique Williams, 10:50.4 was second and Rose Jarvis, 10:52.8 was third. For Rose, Georgia L’Estrange, 11:07.4, and Lucy Johns, 12:25.2, their outing at the Willinda Classic had produced a new personal best time.
The Men Under 16 3000m quickly settled into a tactical race that allowed the whole field of ten athletes to stay together for a good part of the distance. Only in the final lap did the pace hit full stride and the eventual winner, Callum Settle stormed around in 58 seconds to finish in 10:18.0 and just hold out Ethan Armstrong-Bourne, 10:18.8. Nicholas Tomkins, 10:25.4, was the third placegetter.
The Women Open 3000m was an closely contested race from the start with Matilda L’Estrange setting the pace for most of the distance. Emily Dalziel (VCL) and Poppy Scot-Dalgleish were always in the mix and in the run home it was L’Estrange, 10:22.3, Dalziel, 10:18.8, and Scot-Dalgleish, 10:25.4, in that order. Both L’Estrange and Scot-Dalgleish went well under the National qualifying time of 10:40.0; for Poppy it was a personal best time by 31.1 seconds.
The Open Men’s 3000m saw Kaleb Laker (Glenhuntly) lead from the start to take out the win in 9:01.9, followed in by Ashley Cowen (VCL) in 9:10.1 and Joshua Carlin (BOH) in 9:26.3. DVAC athlete, Michael Martello finished fourth in 9:37.0. DVAC juniors, Joel Imbriano, 9:41.0, & Rhodri Whelan, 10:09.2, both sliced considerable margins off their previous personal best times for the 3000m.
Dylan Vidanapathirana, T20, claimed his first DVAC club record in the All Abilities 1000m event with a time of 3:21.1.
Race Director for the Willinda Classic, Kirby Telford, is to be congratulated on the success of the meet. Kirby led a team of willing volunteers to provide a quality event for the athletes. The provision of a Canteen, a Bar, a Band to welcome athletes and play the National Anthem, as well as a large number of lap scorers all added to the success of the evening. Thanks to the AV Officials and our very own Results Hub manager, David Armstrong for their expertise on the evening.
2023 Willinda Classic
Willinda Park, Greensborough
Thursday 28 September 2023
DVAC Results:
Women:
Female OP
3000m: Matilda L'Estrange 10:22.3h; Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 10:27.5h; Alana Barnes 12:29.0h; Fleur Owen 12:50.1h; Shania Murray 13:23.0h; Jo Moxon 15:54.4h; Sarah Papadopoulos 16:05.3h; Elyse Scheuermann 18:41.0h;
Female 16
3000m: Matilda Johnson 10:30.7h; Rose Jarvis 10:52.8h; Georgia L'Estrange 11:07.4h; Lucy Johns 12:25.2h;
Male OP
3000m: Michael Martello 9:37.0h; Joel Imbriano 9:41.0h; Dylan Littlejohn 9:42.8h; Rhodri Whelan 10:09.2h; Damien Cusack 10:20.0h; Rory McPhillips 11:16.7h;
Male 16
3000m: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 10:18.8h; Nicholas Tomkins 10:25.4h; Kai Bunyard 10:37.6h; Juan Herera 10:53.6h; Alexander Tomkins 11:04.1h; Logan Armstrong-Bourne 11:15.9h; Will Masalski 11:18.4h; Glen Imbriano 11:25.1h; Jack Daley 11:29.8h;
Mixed OP
1000m: Ally Brooks 3:02.8h; Dillon Vidanapathirana 3:21.1h;
10000m: Caden Murray 30:34.7h; Shania Murray 36:30.1h; Scott Barnes 42:59.7h; Aaron Bourne 43:43.5h;
See Results Hub on the AV website for complete results from the 2023 Willinda Classic.
