VALLEY MESSAGE GETS THROUGH THE EKIDEN RELAY
Inspired by the Japanese tradition of Ekiden Relays, Round 8 of the Athletics Victoria Winter season saw teams of runners take on a number of different stages over a true Cross Country setting at the St Annes Winery, Myrniong. While each runner came back to a common changeover area, distances and the courses varied with each new section. If the origin of the Ekiden was to transmit communication, then the message being delivered by the Diamond Valley Athletic Club athletes would have been that the 2024 Winter season is going well.
DVAC had 42 athletes (13 Female & 29 Male) run a leg of the Ekiden relays. Of the 42 athletes there were 18 Juniors and 24 Open & Masters athletes.
JUNIOR TEAMS LINE UP FOR MEDALS
Team members from four of the five DVAC junior teams who raced at the Ekiden Relays, were awarded medals by AV for finishing in the top three teams.
The Female Under 16 team of Rose Jarvis, Grace Robinson and Matilda Johnson won an exciting battle to come out victors at Myrniong to further strengthen their grip on top place of the season ladder.
First runner, Rose Jarvis handed over to Grace Robinson with a 36second lead running her 6.6km leg in 26:06. Grace Robinson completed her 5.6km section in 24:03 and tagged the team’s third runner, Matilda Johnson, with lead of 5 seconds. Matilda took the challenge in her stride and covered her 4.2km section in 16:08 to cross 36 seconds clear of the second placed team. The team averaged 4:04min/km for the 16.4km they had covered.
The DVAC F U18 team of Georgia L’Estrange, Lucy Johns & Jamieson Lander won Bronze medals when they came through in1:18:03 after running a combined total distance of 16.9km.
The DVAC M U18 team of Ethan Armstrong-Bourne, Patrick Knight and Cameron Ellis covered a combined total distance of 18.3km in 1:04:27 to claim third place. This time was achieved with an average pace of 3:30min/km.
The DVAC M U16 team of Brodie Batt, Nicholas Tomkin & Alexander Tomkin were the third team to cross the finish line after running a total of 16.9km in 1:01:54. This time gave the team an average pace of 3:39min/km.
DVAC DIVISION 2 TEAMS HOLD UP STRONG
With only two rounds remaining on the 2024 Winter calendar, the DVAC teams in Division 2 consolidated their positions on the season ladder with their performances at Myrniong.
The DVAC Women’s Division 2 team of Shania Murray, Camryn Price, Jo Moxon & Adina Morrow covered a total distance of 26.9km in a time of 2:03:42. Shania Murray sent the team off to a flying start when she logged up the second best time by the 28 Open Women who ran the 8.6km leg; her time for the leg was 32:59. Camryn Price had her first race back after shoulder surgery and completed her 6.6km leg in 27:43; this ranked as the 6th best time for the 27 Open women to run that distance. Jo Moxon and Adina Morrow brought the team home to finish in 6th place out of the 10 teams in Division 2. The DVAC team is sitting in 6th position on the season ladder.
The DVAC Men’s Division 2 team of Caden Murray, Vincent Donnadieu, Dylan Littlejohn, Joel Imbriano, Charles Jacobson and Lachlan Deller covered a total distance of 40.9km in 2:28:50. This meant that the team averaged a pace of 3:26 for the journey. The team finished the day in 8thposition out of the 14 teams racing in Division 2, reflecting the position they hold on the season ladder.
OTHER NOTES:
- It was good to see Rhodri Whelan back in action after a knee injury has kept him on the sidelines. Rhodi managed the 8.6km leg with his usual courage.
- With a late withdrawal, it was good of Jamie Hollingsworth to hop in and complete a team line-up at short notice. Thanks, Jamie.
- If there was a Team Spirt barometer then the reading for DVAC at Myrniong would have been very flattering. The ‘vibes’ were really good.
- A number of the DVAC crew contributed to the the St Annes Winery sales before heading home.
- The verdict on the course was generally favourable after the Relays had finished. ‘Slippery’ was the most common word used.
- All eight DVAC members of Team Victoria heading to Launceston for the Australian Cross Country Championships on Saturday 31 August were in action at Myrniong: Shania Murray (FOpen), Rose Jarvis (F16), Grace Robinson (F15), Matilda Johnson (F15), Jordan Rudd (MU20 Para), Brodie Batt (M15) Ethan Armstrong-Bourne (MU17) and Cameron Ellis (MU18) all got a final tune-up before hitting the car racing circuit at Symmons Plains.
THANK YOU …
The DVAC Tent proved to be an important focal point in getting teams organised throughout the day. A big Thank You to Scott Barnes for getting the Valley Tent to Myrniong. Thanks to the crew who packed it up at the end of the day.
DVAC Club Helpers at Myrniong were: Natalie Lander, Darren Rudd, Keith King & Lyn Davis. This team managed the Men Div 5 Changeover area.
Thanks – to all those who brought the food that was devoured throughout the Ekiden. Starring role again went to Angela’s Cake that was judged Best in Show.
RESULTS:
2024 EKIDEN RELAYS
ST ANNES WINERY, MYRNIONG
Saturday 17 August 2024
DVAC Results:
Female Open Division 2:
26.9km Ekiden: (Shania Murray: 32:59 (8.6km), Camryn Price: 27:43 (6.6km), Jo Moxon: 35:06 (6.1km), Adina Morrow: 27:54 (5.6km)) 2:03:42;
Team Result: 6th/10 Teams
Female Open Division 4:
20.8km Ekiden: (Michelle King: 54:22 (8.6km), Sarah Papadopoulos: 42:04 (6.6km), Elyse Littlejohn: 43:54 (5.6km)) 2:20:20;
Team Result: 5th/5 Teams
Female 18
16.9km Ekiden: (Georgia L'Estrange: 29:17 (6.6km), Lucy Johns: 28:48 (6.1km), Jamieson Lander: 19:58 (4.2km)) 1:18:03;
Team Result: 3rd/4 Teams
Female 16
16.4km Ekiden: (Rose Jarvis: 26:06 (6.6km), Grace Robinson: 24:03 (5.6km), Matilda Johnson: 16:08 (4.2km)) 1:06:17;
Team Result: 1st/3 Teams
Male Open
Male Open Division 2:
40.9km Ekiden: (Caden Murray: 31:41 (8.6km), Vincent Donnadieu: 26:42 (7.9km), Dylan Littlejohn: 24:36 (6.6km), Joel Imbriano: 21:17 (6.1km), Charles Jacobson: 23:30 (6.1km), Lachlan Deller: 21:04 (5.6km)) 2:28:50;
Team Result: 8th/14 Teams
Male Open Division 5:
26.9km Ekiden: (Aaron Bourne: 38:29 (8.6km), Jarryd Cripps: 25:18 (6.6km), Glen Imbriano: 25:32 (6.1km), Michael Martello: 21:28 (5.6km)) 1:50:47;
Team Result: 3rd/12 Teams
Male Open Division 7 (Invite):
25.5km Ekiden: (Rhodri Whelan: 37:15 (8.6km), Jordan Rudd: 28:31 (6.6km), Jamie Hollingsworth: 28:13 (6.1km), Dillon Vidanapathirana: 23:58 (4.2km)) 1:57:57;
Team Result: 1st/4 Teams
Male 18
18.3km Ekiden: (Ethan Armstrong-Bourne: 22:48 (6.6km), Patrick Knight: 22:44 (6.1km), Cameron Ellis: 18:55 (5.6km) 1:04:27;
Team Result: 3rd/6 Teams
Male 16
16.9km Ekiden: (Brodie Batt: 23:41 (6.6km), Nicholas Tomkins: 21:50 (6.1km), Alexander Tomkins: 16:23 (4.2km)) 1:01:54;
Team Result: 3rd/8 Teams
Male 16
16.9km Ekiden: (Alexander Dewar: 27:40 (6.6km), Jett Hollingsworth: 24:23 (6.1km), Logan Armstrong-Bourne: 17:27 (4.2km)) 1:09:30;
Team Result: 8th/ 8 Teams
Male 50
20.3km Ekiden: (Scott Barnes: 38:08 (8.6km), Brett Maloney: 29:21 (6.1km), Greg Luck: 33:18 (5.6km)) 1:40:47;
Team Result: 6th/8 Teams
Male 60
16.9km Ekiden: (Martin Murray: 31:20 (6.6km), Lyal Douglas: 31:49 (6.1km), Rob Wendel: 21:50 (4.2km)) 1:24:59;
Team Result: 7th/10 Teams
