SPECIALIST MEETS BRING SPECIAL JOY
Two nights of specialist athletics action have attracted large turnouts of athletes enjoying the final chance to compete in 2024. The cancellation of AVSL Round 6 no doubt sharpened the appetite for an extra chance to compete.
On Tuesday 17 December 2024 a combination of the High Velocity Club, Athletics Victoria Throwers and the AV Rare Air specialist groups offered a variety of events at the Doncaster venue. Nine DVAC athletes (4 Female & 5 Male) took the chance to compete.
On Thursday 19 December 2024, the Victorian Milers Club Meet #2 attracted over 600 athletes to the Box Hill venue for a program that included 26 races over 800m and 22 races over 1500m. Eighteen DVAC athletes (8 Female & 10 Male) were involved in the program.
HIGH VELOCITY CLUB, AV THROWERS, RARE AIR MEET
SAYE MORRIS GOES CLOSE TO 200m CLUB RECORD
Saye Morris (MOpen) already holds the DVAC Open Men’s 100m record with a time of 10.65. At the HVC meet at Doncaster, Saye ran in the top heat of the 200m & finished strongly to cross in third place in a time of 21.66 (0.6). This puts Saye close to the club record that was set by Nathan Riali at 21.56.
SPRINTERS LOWER THEIR TIMES FOR 200m & 400m
Katie Oliver is best known for her proud record in the 100m sprint but she has also run some sub 60sec 400m’s – so it is no surprise that the 200m might prove to be a special strength. At Doncaster Katie lowered her time for the 200m to 25.20. The flukey wind reading was 2.9, so unofficial.
Elisha Blair, 26.90, and Daisy Whyte, 27.22, both logged personal best times for the 200m. Daisy later ran the 400m in 62.00, a time just outside her best time of 61.94.
Dillon Vidanapathirana (MOpen/ Para) put together his best run over 400m, clocking 59.06.
JUMPING WITH JOY
The performances of Toby Hamilton and Liezel Cilliers in the High Jump were excellent and should provide each athlete with confidence going into the Christmas break.
Toby Hamilton (MU16) cleared 1.91m, a result that ranks as his second best close behind the 1.93m that he cleared at the SSV State Track & Field Championships in October.
Liezel Cilliers (FU14) returned to competition with DVAC after a long break due to injury and cleared 1.41m on her first attempt. Liezel holds the DVAC club GU13 High Jump record at 1.65m achieved just over a year ago.
2025 is full of promise for both athletes.
THROWS TALENT
Chehan Udugampala (MU16) took advantage of the AV Throwers meet to record strong results in the Javelin (39.30m) and the Discus (35.39m).
VICTORIAN MILERS CLUB (MEET #2)
In near perfect conditions for middle distance running and with the assistance of the timed lap lighting to guide the field, six of the DVAC 1500m runners punched out new personal best times.
Nicholas Tomkins (MU16) shaved three seconds off his previous best time and crossed in 4:17.58.
Brodie Batt (MU16) stormed home to win his heat in 4:19.12, a six second pb.
Rhodri Whelan (MU18) put the foot down in the final lap to work from midpack in an 18 strong field, to finish in 4th place in an 8 second pb, crossing at 4:24.65. In the same Heat, William Quigley (MU16) finished 10th in 4:28.22, an 8 second improvement on his previous best time.
Damien Cusack (M40+) recorded his best 1500m time is recent times when he finished strongly to clock 4:45.83.
Running in the B Heat of the 1500m, Caden Murray (MOpen) worked patiently at the back end of the packed field of 18 for the first 1100m before launching a sub 60 second lap that saw him pass runners and finish in 10th place in a new personal best time of 3:54.78. Caden’s previous best time for the 1500m was 3:56.82. “I was not worried being at the back of the field as I could see that the pack was travelling at a decent pace,” said Caden after the race. The qualifying time for the Nationals in the Men Open 1500m is 3:50.00.
Other highlights for the DVAC competitors that ran at the VMC #2 meet included:
# Matilda L’Estrange (FU20) and Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (FU18) made welcome returns to the DVAC line-up after extended time out. Matilda won her heat of the 800m in 2:31.24. Poppy turned the clock back in the C Heat of the Women’s 1500m to cross in 9th place in 4:48.84.
# Shania Murray (FOpen) ran the quickest 1500m for the Valley women at VMC #2, finishing 7th in the C Heat in 4:47.20.
# Georgia L’Estrange (FU16) won the F Heat of the 1500m in a time of 5:03.04. Georgia took the lead early in the second half of the race and met off every challenge that came her way and finished with a 78 second lap.
# Michael Martello (MOpen) ran his best 800m for some time. After the race, Michael said, “I was pleased with the first lap and I feel that with a bit of sharpening up I can get the second lap right”.
AV RARE AIR (POLE VAULT)
Gaelyne Kenshole (F50+) was the sole DVAC athlete to compete at the Rare Air meet #3 at Box Hill on Saturday 21 December 2024. Gaelyne went over 2.30m, 2.45m & 2.60m at her first attempt before missing at 2.75m on her three attempts. Gaelyne has a best clearance of 2.70m in the Pole Vault.
Ellysia Kenshole (FOpen) is on the mend after sustaining a serious injury in a fall at Pole Vault training. We wish Elyssia all the best and look forward to her return to the sport.
DVAC RESULTS ROUND-UP
AV High Velocity Club/ Athletics Victoria Throwers
AV Rare Air
Meet #1
Tuesday 17 December 2024
Doncaster:
DVAC Results:
Female OP
200m: Katie Oliver 25.20 (2.9); Elisha Blair 26.90 (1.0); Daisy Whyte 27.22 (0.1);
400m: Daisy Whyte 62.00;
High Jump: Liezel Cilliers 1.41m;
Male OP
200m: Saye Morris 21.66 (0.6); Scott Rowsell 24.50 (2.1); Dillon Vidanapathirana 27.15 (1.4);
400m: Dillon Vidanapathirana 59.06;
Discus: Chehan Udugampala 35.39m;
High Jump: Toby Hamilton 1.91m;
Javelin: Chehan Udugampala 39.30m;
Victorian Milers Club
Meet #2
Thursday 19 December 2024
Box Hill
DVAC Results
Female OP
800m: Matilda L'Estrange 2:31.24; Grace Robinson 2:31.24; Isabella Napoletano 2:43.53
1500m: Shania Murray 4:47.20; Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 4:48.84; Georgia L'Estrange 5:03.04; Ella Littlehales 5:41.50; Lucy Johns 5:58.00; Adina Morrow DNS;
Male OP
800m: Michael Martello 2:03.30; Thomas Short 2:05.01; Jordan Rudd 2:18.13; DNS;
1500m: Caden Murray 3:54.78; Nicholas Tomkins 4:17.58; Brodie Batt 4:19.12; Rhodri Whelan 4:24.65; William Quigley 4:28.22; Damien Cusack 4:45.83; Jesse Littlehales 5:45.64;
Rare Air_Meet #3
Saturday 21 December 2024
Box Hill
DVAC Results:
Female Open
Pole Vault: Gaelyne Kenshole 2.60m;
