NEW SEASON STARTS WELL AT THE VALLEY
The fact that Round 1 of the Athletics Victoria Shield League happened at all on Saturday 13 November 2021 was reason to celebrate. Athletes looked happy to return to athletics after a lengthy lock-down period due to COVID. Then there was the weather … despite all predictions, the full program was completed. And best of all, Round 1 proved to be a successful day of competition for the Diamond Valley Athletic Club.
By the end of competition the Valley was listed 5th on the 10 team Premier League ladder. This gave our club 6 valuable points for the Round. A year ago, DVAC finished Round 1 in 8th position and earned only 3 points. It was a long hard slog before DVAC worked clear of the threat of relegation and finished the 2020/ 2021 season in 5th place. This year we are much better situated to build toward a top four spot on the ladder and the right to take part in the AVSL finals.
VALLEY WOMEN UNDER 16 TEAM ON TOP OF THE STATE LADDER
The DVAC Women Under 16 team finished Round 1 sitting at the top of the State ladder for their age group. The 11 girls who competed in Round 1 amassed a total of 7,237 points for the day putting them 552 points clear of the Doncaster team. There will no doubt be a battle all season for top spot and this will require that all 16 girls registered for the U16 team lend a hand as often as possible.
Leading the points tally for the Under 16 team were the Smith sisters, Tara & Vanessa. Tara collected a total of 1,247 points on the day: Hammer Throw, 35.94m (425 pts), Shot Put, 9.04m (422 pts) & High Jump, 1.45m (400 pts). Tara also did the Triple Jump, 8.80m, but as the other 3 events scored higher points she did not get points for the Triple Jump.
Vanessa earned a total of 1108 points: Hammer Throw, 33.63m (425 pts), Shot Put, 7.67m (363 pts) & the High Jump, 1.35m (334 pts)
The reigning premiers of the Men’s 40+ age group, Diamond Valley, had to settle for third spot on the ladder at the end of Round 1. The 13 members of the team who competed in Round 1 earned a total of 8,225 points for the day. Greg Luck, the team Captain will be working overtime to get the team back to the top spot.
Luke De Biasi got his season off to a great start, topping the Men 55-59 division with a total of 1437 points: High Jump, 1.55m (501 pts); 400m Hurdles, 67.96 (490 pts) & the Shot Put, 9.00m (446 pts).
The other DVAC age division teams finished in the following order from the total number of teams listed:
Women: Open 5th/36; Under 20 20th/24: Under 18 9th/32: Under 16 1st/39: Under 14 10th/31: 40+ 9th/28
Men: Open 15th/40: Under 20 30th/30: Under 18 22nd/40: Under 16 21st/36: Under 14 – no points scored.
Help your team – get your entry in for Round 2 by midday on Wednesday: consider doing several events.
WELCOME TO THE VALLEY
Twelve athletes competed for Diamond Valley Athletic Club for the first time in Round 1. These athletes & their best scoring events are listed below:
Women Open: Elyse Scheuermann, 800m – 3:49.4:
Women Under 18: Sugi Neecowen, 800m – 2:41.9
Women Under 18: Courtney Freeman, 800m – 3:05.1
Women Under 18: Sophie Compton-Cook, Triple Jump – 8.31m
Women Under 18: Chantelle Foreman, 400m Hurdles – 86.88
Women Under 18: Bianca Eiting-Brown, Shot Put – 8.93m
Women Under 16: Mackenzie Genders, 200m – 29.67
Women Under 16: Alannah Hoffman, 200m – 30.26
Women Under 16: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish, 800m – 2:33.4
Women Under 14: Rebecca Hvalica, 200m – 27.29
Women 40+: Paula Merino, Shot Put – 6.77m
Men Under 18: Riley Neecowen, 200m – 25.29
KIRRA & JORDAN LEAD FOR THE VALLEY
The Diamond Valley Athletic Club were given great leadership by Kirra Wright (T38) & Jordan Rudd (T20) in Round 1. Kirra competed at Murrumbeena & posted impressive results in the Long Jump (3.42m), 400m (85.50) and the 100m (16.83) to record a tally of 1182 points for the day & lead the DVAC scores in the Women Under 14.
Jordan showed absolute courage in his attack on 200m (32.80), 800m (2:46.1) & the 3000m (13:01.2). All three performances set new personal best benchmarks for Jordan. Jordan led the scores for the DVAC Men Under 16 with a total of 666 points.
Kirra & Jordan both competed at the Australian Championships in Sydney last March & they will be keen to be back again early next year.
DISTANCE ATHLETES IN TOP FORM
Tyler Murphy (MU18) gained no points for his run in the 5000m but he could could not have been happier. A distance specialist, Tyler was keen to plumb his ability over the 5000m distance and his performance was a highlight of the Round. Tyler crossed in 16:36.5 to put up a 19 second personal best time.
Shania Murray got her season away to a strong start, finishing the 5000m in 17:59.0 (479 pts) and placing 2nd female in the event. Other DVAC Women to do well in the 5000m were Fieke Van Der Kamp (WU18), 18:46.3; Cassandra Schnaars (Wop) 20:45.8; and Deb McKenzie (W40+) 24:15.
Blake Barnes (Mop) completed the 5000m in 17:28.9.
Cameron Ellis (MU16) ran a well-paced race in the 3000m to finish in 9:50.9.
DEPTH OF SPRINT TALENT
The Valley Men Under 18 team has a depth of sprint talent. In Round 1 the four Valley sprinters in the 200m posted the following results: Charl Louwrens, 23.75; Samuel Abolencia, 23.93; Elijah Zantey, 24.00; Saxon Howkins, 24.44.
Katie Oliver, WU16, led the DVAC Women’s times for the 200m, clocking 26.33. This time was the fourth fastest for the Women Under 16 & earned Katie 485 points.
PERSONAL BEST PERFORMANCES
These are some of the Personal Best performances recorded by DVAC athletes in Round 1 & not mentioned so far:
Women Under 14: Rebecca Hvalica, 200m – 27.29
Women Under 16: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish, 800m – 2:33.4
Men Open: Dylan Littlejohn, 3000m – 9:58.6
Women 40+: Paula Merino, Shot Put – 6.77m
Women 40+: Paula Merino, Hammer Throw – 18.21m
Women Under 16: Keira Sanchez, Hammer Throw – 43.59m
THANKS TO THE VALLEY CLUB HELPERS FOR ROUND 1:
Triple Jump: Adam Scott, Scott Barnes, Cyril Dixon, Tony Lander, John Zantey, Vicky Jones, Blake Barnes, Fieke Van Der Kamp, Maryann Murray, Ivan Dodin, Charmaine Smith, Greg Luck, Darren Rudd, B. Neecowen
AVSL Round 1
Saturday 13 November 2021
Doncaster, Duncan McKinnon
DVAC Results:
Women:
Open:
200m: Cassandra Schnaars 31.44 (1.9); Sarah Papadopoulos 39.69 (0.2);
800m: Sarah Papadopoulos 3:34.8h; Elyse Scheuermann 3:49.4h;
3000m: Elyse Scheuermann 17:01.3h;
5000m: Shania Murray 17:59.0h; Cassandra Schnaars 20:45.8h;
3000m Walk: Sarah Papadopoulos 21:46.2h;
Shot Put: Shania Murray 5.21m; Sarah Papadopoulos 4.71m;
Triple Jump: Sarah Papadopoulos 6.76m (-0.6);
Under 20:
100m: Keely Boyne 13.10 (-2.6);
Under 18:
200m: Sugi Neecowen 30.01 (0.7); Sophie Compton-Cook 32.89 (1.9);
800m: Sugi Neecowen 2:41.9h; Courtney Freeman 3:05.1h;
400m Hurdles: Chantelle Foreman 86.88;
Shot Put: Bianca Eiting-Brown 8.93m;
Triple Jump: Sophie Compton-Cook 8.31m (-3.3);
Under 16:
200m: Katie Oliver 26.33 (0.7); Mackenzie Genders 29.67 (0.7); Alannah Hoffman 30.26 (1.9); Annalise Jones 30.42 (0.7);
800m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 2:33.4h;
3000m: Matilda L'Estrange 11:02.7h; Poppy Scot-Dalgleish DNF;
200m Hurdles: Jamieson Lander 32.75 (1.3); Charlee Dickson 35.92 (1.3); Annalise Jones 38.95 (1.3); Alannah Hoffman NT;
Hammer Throw: Keira Sanchez 43.59m; Vanessa Smith 33.63m; Tara Smith 35.94m;
High Jump: Vanessa Smith 1.35m; Tara Smith 1.45m;
Shot Put: Keira Sanchez 10.44m; Vanessa Smith 7.67m; Katie Oliver DNS; Tara Smith 9.04m;
Triple Jump: Vanessa Smith 8.49m (+0.0); Charlee Dickson 9.00m (-0.5); Annalise Jones 7.93m (+0.0); Tara Smith 8.80m (-0.6); Mackenzie Genders 8.37m;
Under 14:
100m: Kirra Wright 16.83 (-1.9);
200m: Rebecca Hvalica 27.29 (1.3); Hanna Rowe 37.57;
400m: Kirra Wright 85.50;
Long Jump: Kirra Wright 3.42m;
Shot Put: Hanna Rowe 5.86m;
Women 40+:
200m: Jo Moxon 43.69 (1.6);
800m: Debbie McKenzie 3:15.0h; Jo Moxon 3:31.1h; Michelle King 3:32.5h;
3000m: Jo Moxon 15:20.4h; Michelle King 15:28.0h;
5000m: Debbie McKenzie 24:15.4h;
Hammer Throw: Paula Merino 18.21m;
Shot Put: Jo Moxon 4.54m; Debbie McKenzie 6.10m; Paula Merino 6.77m;
Men:
Open:
200m: Dylan Littlejohn 29.47 (2.2);
800m: Dylan Littlejohn 2:20.5h;
3000m: Dylan Littlejohn 9:58.6h;
5000m: Blake Barnes 17:28.9h;
Hammer Throw: Colin Newman 38.63m;
Shot Put: Colin Newman 11.80m;
Under 20:
Shot Put: Caden Murray 7.49m;
Under 18:
200m: Charl Louwrens 23.75 (0.8); Samuel Abolencia 23.93 (0.9); Elijah Zantey 24.00 (0.9); Saxon Howkins 24.44 (1.2);
Under 16:
200m: Riley Neecowen 25.29 (+0.0); Jordan Rudd 32.80 (0.3);
800m: Jordan Rudd 2:46.1h;
3000m: Jordan Rudd 13:01.2h; Cameron Ellis 9:50.9h;
Shot Put: Tuomas Rowe 7.89m;
Men 40+:
100m: Chris Boyne 13.70 (-2.5);
200m: Adam Scott 28.81 (2.7); Greg Luck 31.99 (0.6); Cyrus Wong 33.13 (2.2); Andrew McKenzie 40.12 (2.8);
800m: Spiro Neofitou 3:00.8h; Cyrus Wong 3:08.9h; Andrew McKenzie 3:15.8h;
3000m: Scott Barnes 12:23.3h; Spiro Neofitou 13:01.6h;
5000m: Cyrus Wong 23:10.0h; Andrew McKenzie 24:38.0h;
400m Hurdles: Luke De Biasi 67.96;
3000m Walk: Bernie Keirl 18:34.5h;
Discus: Matthew Hall 30.47m;
Hammer: Scott Barnes 18.57m; Ivan Dodin 14.13m; Matthew Hall 26.95m;
High Jump: Greg Luck 1.15m; Adam Scott 1.35m; Luke De Biasi 1.55m;
Javelin: Matthew Hall 25.99m;
Shot Put: Scott Barnes 6.10m; Mark Tapping 7.08m; Greg Luck 7.02m; Luke De Biasi 9.00m; Matthew Hall 10.41m;
Triple Jump: Greg Luck 7.49m (-0.8); Adam Scott 8.87m (-1.1);
