VALLEY ATHLETES SHINE AT VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

For the 41 DVAC athletes (24 Female & 17 Male) who participated in Week 1 of the 2024 Victorian Track & Field Championships, the experience was a valuable chance to perform under the pressure of Championship conditions. The fact that the DVAC athletes won a total of 26 medals (10 Gold, 8 Silver and 8 Bronze) across the three days of competition and a majority of the athletes came away with either personal best performances or season best performances was evidence of success at the Valley. The DVAC community – parents, coaches, Club Helpers and AV Officials - was present at Lakeside from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon.

There was an even balance of medals produced between Track (14 medals) and Field (12 medals) although on this occasion the Valley females (17 medals) did outperform the Valley males (9 medals). Congratulations to all Valley athletes who competed on the weekend.

THE COURAGE OF KIRRA

Leading the Valley’s medal charge was Kirra Wright, a T38 athlete, who won Gold in the Female Under 15 Para 100m (15.41), 400m (78.86), Long Jump (3.34m) and the Shot Put (7.50m). After spending time in hospital during the week, Kirra could not be deterred from making it to Lakeside where she logged up close to her best ever performances in the 100m, 400m & Shot Put. Added to that was a Para Classification assessment on the Sunday morning where her Classification was adjusted from T38 to T36. You are an inspiration to us all, Kirra.

THE VALLEY SPEED QUEEN – KEELY BOYNE

Keely Boyne clocked 11.98 in the Heats of the Open Women 100m to qualify with the second fastest time. In the Final, Keely won the Silver medal with a time of 11.97. This was the first time that Keely has clocked back to back sub 12 second runs not to mention back to back Silver medals in the Open Women 100m State Championship after her second placing in 2023.

To cap off a top weekend, Keely won the silver medal in the Open Women 100m Hurdles in a personal best time of 14.02. Bring on the 2024 Nationals!

Ot.

THE POWER OF PAORA

In the Field events a year older often means that the implements get heavier. This does not seem to phase DVAC’s champion Thrower, Paora Okirua. Paora won the Male Under 17 Shot Put with a put of 15.82m with his first experience with the 5kg weight after the move from 4kg.

The same in the Hammer Throw, an event that Paora has only recently added to his repertoire. First competition with the 5kg weight and Paora wins the Silver medal with a throw of 33.17m!

Well done, Paora!

WOOSH … VALLEY’S OWN JUNIOR AWESOME FOURSOME

Four DVAC Junior Female athletes to come away with a Gold medal at the Vic Champs were Heidi Kuppler (F13 1500m), Jamie Ritchie (F14 100m), Oli Oldfield (F15 400m) and Matilda Johnson (F15 1500m).

Heidi Kuppler’s win in the F13 1500m came after having to fend off a number of serious challenges. After going straight to the lead, Heidi responded to each challenge and crossed the line in 4:48.68.

Matilda Johnson patiently bided her time in the F15 1500m until the final lap when she made a decisive move to the lead with 300m to go. Matilda crossed the line a clear winner in 4:48.36.

Jamie Ritchie stormed down the straight in the F14 100m building up a convincing lead before crossing the line in a personal best time of 12.69 to take the Gold. Jamie had qualified with the fastest time of 12.91.

Oli Oldfield won the Gold medal and set a new DVAC club record for the FU15 400m when she had her second run in the Valley colours at the Vic Champs! Oli was the second fastest qualifier in the Heats with a time of 59.99. In the Final, there was no argument as she powered home in 58.63.

Congratulations to Heidi, Matilda, Jamie and Oli.

TOBY’S CLUTCH CLEARANCE

The Male 15 High Jump event was all tied up with three competitors having cleared the bar at 1.65m. With the bar at 1.70m all three missed the bar on their first two attempts. On his third attempt, DVAC’s Toby Hamilton made the clearance and the other two missed, giving Toby his second Victorian title for the summer having won the Victorian All Schools title in the High Jump at the start of Summer.

SILVER MEDALS:

Keira Sanchez: Female 20 Hammer Throw: 39.01m

Ally Brooks: Female 18 1500m: 4:39.63

Hanna Rowe: Female 16 Hammer Throw: 33.16m

Dillon Vidanapathirana: Male Para Open: 400m: 59.40

Jordan Rudd: Male Para 20: Jordan Rudd 59.79

BRONZE MEDALS:

Tara Smith: Female 20 Hammer Throw: 37.90m

Keira Sanchez: Female 20 Shot Put: 10.85m

Rebecca Hvalica: Female 16 100m: 12.65

Zoey Ryan: Female 16 Hammer Throw: 32.04m

Chehan Udugampala: Male Hammer Throw: 34.50m

William Quigley: Male 15 2000m Steeplechase: 7:05.57

Dillon Vidanapathirana: Male Para Open 100m: 12.75

Jordan Rudd: Male Para 20 Long Jump: 4.58m

PB CHATLINE …

How good were 400m runs by Jordan Rudd & Dillon Vidanapathirana! Both went under 60 seconds for the first time. Jordan also pb’d in the 1500m & Long Jump. Dillon went under 13 sec for the first time in the 100m.

1500m pb’s – Cameron Ellis pb’d twice! Also there was Kai Bunyard, Erin Maloney, & Luella Wood.

Tara Smith sent the 4kg Hammer further than ever before.

William Quigley chipped time off his one other run over the 2000m Steeplechase.

A HUGE THANK YOU …

Goes to SHANIA MURRAY & MARYANN MURRAY for covering the DVAC Club Helper Duty on Saturday. Greatly appreciated by your club.

Thanks to the following people for volunteering for Weekend 2 next week. Here are the Duty spots and the vacancies. Can you help fill them? Let Max know comon 0409 350 280 0r mbalchin29@bigpond.com

2024 VICTORIAN TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

WEEKEND 2: FRIDAY 1, SATURDAY 2 & SUNDAY 3 MARCH 2024

DVAC CLUB DUTY ALLOCATION:

FRIDAY 1 MARCH 2024 – 6:30pm – 8:30pm

1 dvac club helper needed at call room

Sign up here:

6:30pm – 8:30pm: SARAH GITTINS

SATURDAY 2 march 2024 - 9:00am – 1:45pm

1 DVAC CLUB HELPER NEEDED ON javelin (Field team 1)

Sign up here:

9:00am – 11:00pm: ___________

11:00am – 1:45pm: LUKE HAMILTON

SATURDAY 2 march 2024 - 9:00am – 1:45pm

1 DVAC CLUB HELPER NEEDED ON admin/runner

Sign up here:

9:00am – 11:00pm: ___________

11:00am – 1:45pm: ANDREA MEAGHER: KATE RYAN

SunDAY 3 march 2024 - 9:30am – 3:00pm

1 DVAC CLUB HELPER NEEDED ON JAVELIN/DISCUS-FIELD TEAM 1

Sign up here:

9:30am – 12:00pm: MARYANN MURRAY

12:00Pm – 3:00pm: DAVID HVALICA

2024 VICTORIAN TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Friday 23, Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 2024

Lakeside Stadium

DVAC Results:

Female:

Female OP
100m: Keely Boyne 11.97 (-0.8) (2nd); 11.98 (-0.0) (P);
100m Hurdles: Keely Boyne 14.02 (0.9) (2nd);
Female 20
100m: Katie Oliver 12.65 (0.7) (7th); 12.54 (1.6) (P); Olivia Sheens 13.38 (+0.0) (P);
400m: Sugi Neecowen DNS;
1500m: Erin Maloney 5:06.85 (8th);
Hammer: Keira Sanchez 39.01m (2nd); Tara Smith 37.90m (3rd);
Shot Put: Keira Sanchez 10.85m (3rd);
Female 18
1500m: Ally Brooks 4:39.63 (2nd);
Hammer: Vanessa Smith 38.42m (4th);
Female 17
100m: Maddy Meagher 12.57 (+0.0) (5th); 12.81 (-1.2) (P);
1500m: Georgia L'Estrange 5:18.88 (13th); Luella Wood 5:23.09 (14th);
Hammer: Amelia Di Benedetto 27.10m (5th);
Female 16
100m: Rebecca Hvalica 12.65 (-0.8) (3rd); 12.65 (-1.9) (P);
1500m: Rose Jarvis 5:09.36 (13th);
Hammer: Hanna Rowe 33.16m (2nd); Zoey Ryan 32.04m (3rd);
High Jump: Liv Nicholls 1.40m (9th);
Shot Put: Zoey Ryan 9.94m (4th); Hanna Rowe 7.96m (11th);
Female 15
400m: Oli Oldfield 58.63 (1st); 59.99 (P);
1500m: Matilda Johnson 4:48.36 (1st); Grace Robinson 5:06.02 (6th);
Female 14
100m: Jamie Ritchie 12.69 (1.9) (1st); 12.91 (1.5) (P);
Female 13
1500m: Heidi Kuppler 4:48.68 (1st);

Male:
Male OP
100m: Hayden Moon 11.43 (0.2) (P); Saye Morris DQ (1.0);
1500m: Caden Murray 4:03.01 (P);
Shot Put: Colin Newman 12.36m (5th);
Male 20
100m: Zack Lambie 11.67 (-0.6) (P);
Male 18
100m: Asher Andrews 11.38 (1.0) (6th); 11.40 (-0.4) (P);
1500m: Cameron Ellis 4:11.99 (13th); 4:13.65 (P); Rhodri Whelan 4:38.50 (P);
Male 17
100m: Charlie Gray 12.08 (-1.2) (P);
1500m: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 4:23.18 (P);
110m Hurdles: Charlie Gray 17.97 (-1.7) (5th);
Hammer: Paora Okirua 33.17m (2nd);
Shot Put: Paora Okirua 15.82m (1st);
Male 16
Hammer: Chehan Udugampala 34.50m (3rd);
Shot Put: Chehan Udugampala 13.11m (5th);
Male 15
1500m: Kai Bunyard 4:36.01 (7th); William Quigley 4:50.82 (15th);
2000m Steeple: William Quigley 7:05.57 (3rd);
High Jump: Toby Hamilton 1.70m (1st);
Female P17
100m: Kirra Wright T38 F38 15.41 (-1.9) (1st);
400m: Kirra Wright T38 F38 78.86 (1st);
Long Jump: Kirra Wright T38 F38 3.34m (0.4) (1st);
Shot Put: Kirra Wright T38 F38 7.50m (1st);
Male AMB
100m: Dillon Vidanapathirana 12.75 (-1.0) (3rd);
400m: Dillon Vidanapathirana 59.40 (2nd);
Long Jump: Dillon Vidanapathirana 3.90m (+0.0) (5th);

Sponsors

We Support