HOT LAPS AT SANDOWN FOR ROAD RELAYS
Thirty two Diamond Valley Athletic Club athletes hit the Road Racing circuit at the Sandown Racecourse on Saturday 9 July 2022, making up four women’s teams and five men’s teams. In excellent conditions, the racing was fast and the competition tough. The DVAC teams all held their own with the Women Under 16 Women’s team a standout, winning a Bronze medal.
By the end of the program a happy gathering of the Valley team were able to enjoy each other’s company in the Grandstand and snack on the generous spread of food on offer.
There were many highlights to talk over.
Women: Division 2
Shania Murray ran her two 3.1km laps of the Racecourse in one of the best ever times by DVAC women when she handed over to Merlina Hession with only 21:53 on the clock. This was the 6th fastest of the times for all women on the day and came only six days after Shania had completed the Half Marathon on the Gold Coast in 78:46.
Merlina Hession, Vula Sheens and Taylor Radatti completed a consistent team, all clocking 25min for the two laps. A fourth placing was another good result for the season. The team covered the 24.8km total in 97:55, averaging 3:55 for each kilometer.
Women: Division 4
Isabelle Brugliera marked her return to DVAC with a 28:02min run for her 6.2km leg. Sarah Papadopoulos and Jo Moxon completed the team that finished 4th out of the 12 teams in the Division. This team was listed as 3rd on the Ladder going into Round 5.
Women Under 18:
Matilda L’Estrange, 11:24, posted the second fastest time for the Under 18 girls, getting the team away to a great start. Georgia L’Estrange, 13:03, & Sugi Neecowen, 13:34, are showing the benefits of a Cross Country season with improvement at each outing.
Women Under 16:
Ally Brooks is hitting top form and this was evident at Sandown when she posted the fastest time for the Women Under 16. Jamieson Lander returned from a week long Hockey tournament to run 12:40 and Poppy Scot-Dalgleish brought the team home into third place with a run of 12:01 for the 3.1km leg.
Men Division 2:
Tim Logan’s 18:52, would be the second best time for the Valley men behind the 18:31 recorded by the great mate, Jaryd Clifford in 2019. The team total of 2:06:38 for the 37.2km covered by the six runners registers as an average pace of 3:23 for the distance. This is over 8 minutes faster than the last Division 2 Relay at Sandown in 2022. Tim Logan was well backed up by Michael Martello, 21:05, Charles Jacobson, 22:33, Tyler Murphy, 21:23, Caden Murray, 20:06, and Jarryd Cripps, 22:39. The team finished 7th out of the 13 teams.
Men Division 5:
After Jordan Chapman’s, 26:13, Aaron Bourne’s 25:50, and Matthew Thompson’s 24:36, it was all up to Dillon Vidanapathirana to bring the team home. The only catch was that Dillon’s longest run before had been 5km. Dillon took the task on with absolute determination and to see him cross the line in 31:56 was an inspiration to the other Valley club members. Well done, Dillon.
Men Division 7:
Team withdrawals due to Covid and illness meant that the Valley were unable to field a team in this Division. The call went out for willing volunteers to run a leg. Enter James Telford who not only completed one 6.2km leg, but kept going for the second leg, covering the 12.4km in 50:22. On the way James racked up pb’s for the 5km and the 10km. A cool down lap made up a total that should stand him in good stead for the Run Melbourne Half Marathon in a few weeks.
Men Under 16:
Cameron Ellis was in the top ten fastest runs over the 3.1km for the Men Under 16, handing over to Ethan Armtrong-Bourne in 9:58. Ethan’s 11:05, and Felix Morgan’s 11:50, put the team into 6th place out of 12 teams in an extremely competitive age group.
Men 50+:
The Men 50+ age group is another division that is fiercely competitive. The 9th placing out of 15 teams seems not to reflect the quality of the runs by Aaron Scot-Dalgleish, 24:41, Mark Tapping, 26:51, or Andrew McKenzie, 28:53.
Men 60+:
The Men 60+ team ran out of runners after Rob Wendel’s, 29:15, and Peter Ramsay’s, 27:02. Despite this, the 60+ Men are still on top of the ladder in the Short Course events.
CLUB HELPERS:
A big thank you to Kirby Telford and Andrew Stirling for stepping up to fill the DVAC duty at the Women Division 5 Changeover.
DVAC has no assigned Club Duty at Bundoora Park on 23 July, but we will be required to provide 2 Club Helpers at Albert Park on 7th August.
Thanks to all the crew who contributed to the wonderful spread of food.
XCR Round 5
Road Relays
Sandown Racecourse
Saturday 9 July 2022
DVAC Results:
Women:
Open: Division 2: 4x6km: (Shania Murray: 21:53, Merlina Hession: 25:06, Vula Sheens: 25:13, Taylor Radatti: 25:43) 1:37:55;
Team Result: 6th/ 12 Teams
Open: Division 4: 3x6km: (Isabelle Brugliera: 28:02, Sarah Papadopoulos: 35:33, Jo Moxon: 33:34) 1:37:09;
Team Result: 4th/ 12 Teams
Women Under 18
3x3km: (Matilda L'Estrange: 11:24, Georgia L'Estrange: 13:03, Sugi NeeCowen: 13:34) 38:01;
Team Result: 6th/ 9 Teams
Women Under 16
3x3km: (Ally Brooks: 11:12, Jamieson Lander: 12:40, Poppy Scot-Dalgleish: 12:01) 35:53;
Team Result: 3rd/ 8 Teams
Men:
Open: Division 2: 6x6.1km: (Tim Logan: 18:52, Michael Martello: 21:05, Charles Jacobson: 22:33, Tyler Murphy: 21:23, Caden Murray: 20:06, Jarryd Cripps: 22:39) 2:06:38;
Team Result: 7th/ 13 Teams
Open: Division 5: 4x6.1km: (Jordan Chapman: 26:13, Aaron Bourne: 25:50, Matthew Thompson: 24:36, Dillon Vidanapathirana: 31:56) 1:48:35;
Team Result: 9th/ 11 Teams
Open: Division 7: James Telford: 24:20, Athlete 2: 26:02) 50:22;
Invitation
Men Under 16:
3x3km: (Cameron Ellis: 09:58, Ethan Armstrong-Bourne: 11:05, Felix Morgan: 11:50) 32:53;
Team Result: 6th/ 12 Teams
Men 50+:
3x6km: (Aaron Scot-Dalgleish: 24:41, Mark Tapping: 26:51, Andrew McKenzie: 28:53) 1:20:25;
Team Result: 9th/ 15 Teams
Men 60+:
3x6km: (Rob Wendel: 29:15, Peter Ramsay: 27:02, Greg Luck) 56:17;
Team Result: 6th/ 6 Teams
