VALLEY JUNIORS IN MEDAL HAUL AT
2023 VICTORIAN JUNIOR T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS
The first weekend of the 2023 Victorian Track & Field Championships showcased the talent possessed by the DVAC Juniors. Thirty four DVAC junior athletes journeyed into the Lakeside Stadium to compete and across the three day program on Friday 24, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 February 2023. In all, the DVAC juniors won a total of 30 medals. The medal haul over Weekend #1 of the Vic Champs included 12 Gold, 7 Silver and 11 Bronze medals. The DVAC women who competed won a total of 22 medals while the DVAC men won a total of 8 medals. Out of the 30 medals, there were 15 medals won in Track events and 15 medals won by the Field event athletes.
The 2023 medal haul compares favourably with the medals won at the 2022 Victorian Championships. A year ago, the 36 DVAC athletes to compete at the Championships, won a total of 18 medals (7 Gold, 6 Silver & 3 Bronze). In 2021 there were 27 competing DVAC athletes who won 12 medals (3 Gold, 6 Silver & 3 Bronze).
GOLD:
Kirra Wright: W Para U17: 100m – 15.60; W Para U17 200m – 32.64; W Para U17 400m – 81.89; W U17 Para Long Jump 3.74m
Four Gold medals to Kirra who has battled health issues over the summer and is only recently getting back to training.
Jaime Hvalica: M U14 3000m Walk – 16:24.03
Jaime crossed the finish line 9 seconds clear of the second placed athlete to claim his first State medal with Athletics Victoria.
Max Davidson: M U15 3000m Walk – 15:18.36
First Championship with AV and Max wins Gold with a personal best time of 15:18.36 with a buffer of 21 seconds over the second placed athlete.
Asher Andrews: M U17 Discus - 42.98m; MU17 Javelin - 48.00m
Great to see Asher back in action after his hamstring injury at the State Combined Events Championships. Asher won both the Javelin & Shot Put with a 3 metre buffer. His 42.98m throw with the 1.5kg Discus was a pb with that weight.
Zoey Ryan: W U15 Hammer Throw – 34.12m
It all came together for Zoey with a 2.35m pb with the 3kg Hammer. Zoey won by over 3 metres to claim her first Gold medal with AV.
Vanessa Smith: W U17 Javelin – 35.97m
Vanessa threw the 500g Javelin 2.53m further than she had ever before to claim the Gold medal with a margin of over 2 metres. This came with a clutch effort on Vannessa’s final throw.
Katie Oliver: W U18 100m – 12.44
Katie’s win in the 100m was emphatic with a display of power running. Katie won her heat in 12.35 which was just outside her best time of 12.34.
Paora Okirua: M U16 Shot Put – 16.27m
Paora has won a Gold medal with his first competition in the Valley colours. A silver medallist at the 2022 Australian All Schools in December, Paora went one better at the Vic Junior Champs, winning with a put of the 4kg Shot of 16.27m. This was 2.92m ahead of the silver medallist.
SILVER:
Matilda L’Estrange: W U17 3000m – 10:26.53
The Silver medal did not come without a battle of wills in the final lap but Matilda prevailed in her second best time of 10:26.53.
Keira Sanchez: W U17 Hammer Throw – 47.32m
Keira produced her 2nd best throw with the 3kg Hammer to take the silver medal with a distance of 47.32m.
Ally Brooks: W U17 800m – 2:12.74
The final of the Women Under 17 800m was definitely one of the races of the meet. Challenge and counter challenge all the way around the second lap. In the finish Ally had to settle for silver but the time was a big break-through, down from her previous best of 2:14.95. Ally’s time of 2:12.74 sets a new DVAC club record for the Women Under 17.
Jamieson Lander: W U17 400m Hurdles – 67.34
The new pb of 67.34 is good news for Jamieson in the lead up to the Nationals in Brisbane next month. This was down from 69.05.
Hayley Sposato: W U17 High Jump – 1.60m
Hayley cleared 1.60m on her first attempt to win the Silver medal. Hayley had three attempts at 1.63m but just missed.
Ines Caton-Smith: W U15 Javelin – 27.81m
Ines continues on her medal winning way, this time with a silver medal in the Javelin.
Asher Andrews: M U17 Shot Put – 13.27m
Asher added a Silver medal with the Shot Put to his two Gold medals in Javelin & Discus to complete a wonderful weekend’s competition.
BRONZE:
Katie Oliver: W U18 200m – 25.60
Katie is right up with the best in her age group winning the 100m & 3rd in the 200m. Now for the Nationals.
Tara Smith: W U18 Hammer Throw – 41.12m; W U18 Javelin – 36.95m
This was a magic weekend for Tara winning not one but two medals in her first podium placed Championships. Add to that the big pb with the Hammer of 41.12m and the second best ever throw with the Javelin 36.95m.
Ally Brooks: W U17 2000m Steeplechase – 7:41.28
Ally has added some Hurdling into the Steeplechase and came home a comfortable third place.
Rebecca Hvalica: W U15 100m – 12.87; W U15 200m – 25.59
Rebecca was most keen to medal in the 200m in order to qualify in that event for the Nationals. Mission accomplished! Her run in the final of 25.59 was a pb.
Matilda Johnson: W U15 3000m – 10:40.58
What a way to make your track debut! Running her first 3000m on the track, Matilda had to battle over the final lap to hold on to the Bronze medal. Matilda has another year in this age group.
Hanna Rowe: W U15 Hammer Throw – 30.47m;
Hanna continues her break out season, this time winning the Bronze medal with a throw of 30.47m.
Zoey Ryan: W U15 Javelin – 25.23m
What a weekend for Zoey! Adds the Bronze medal in the Javelin to the Gold in the Hammer Throw.
Joel Imbriano: M U18 5000m Walk – 27:28.07
A versatile athlete, Joel recently ran 17:17.13 for the 5000m; this time he walked the distance in 27:28.07 to win the Bronze medal.
Milun Fernando: M U17 Javelin – 44.91m
Milun comes to DVAC having placed 7th at the Australian All Schools with a throw of 49.70m last December. In his first comp wearing the Valley strip, Milun placed third in the M U17 Javelin with a throw of 44.91m.
PB COUNTRY:
- Annalise Jones (WU18): 100m – 13.68; 400m Hurdles – 80.33
- Alexia Moxon (WU17): 100m – 14.96
- Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (WU17): 800m – 2:22.69/ 2:20.47; 1500m – 4:50.22
- Vanessa Smith (WU17): Discus 28.56
- Luella Wood (WU16): 1500m – 5:30.73; 3000m – 11:49.35
- Amelia Di Benedetto (WU16): Shot Put – 8.98m
- Ethan Armstrong-Bourne (MU16): 1500m – 4:16.24; 800m – 2:06.44
- Chehan Udugampala (MU15): Hammer Throw – 25.57m; Discus – 33.90m
Apologies if I have overlooked anyone. Do let me know so I can amend the article.
DVAC CLUB HELPERS – WEEKEND #1
We did it! DVAC filled every duty for the weekend allotted to our club. DVAC thanks those members who took the time to book into the Cathy Freeman room & do their assigned Club Helper duty. I believe that in most cases, the duty turned out to be a positive experience. A huge THANK YOU to the following for their support at the Victorian Junior T&F Championships:
Sugi Neecowen, Aaron Scot-Dalgleish, Kate Ryan, Lalith Udugampala, Jo Moxon, Melinda Di Benedetto, Nicole Dickson, Kylie Wright, Natalie Lander, Bronwyn Neecowen, Lyn Davis, Dillon Vidanapathirana, Max Balchin, Melanie Sposato
As well DVAC had plenty of members out in their capacity as AV Officials: these included Jeff Hughes, Andrew Stirling, Paul Schofield, Stuart Schnaars, & Rick Clarke. Apologies if I have overlooked anyone.
2023 VICTORIAN JUNIOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Lakeside Stadium
Friday 24, Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 February 2023
DVAC Results
Women:
W18
100m: Katie Oliver 12.44 (-0.8) (1st); 12.35 (-0.1) (P); Annalise Jones 13.68 (1.4) (P); Olivia Sheens 13.34 (1.4) (P);
200m: Katie Oliver 25.60 (1.0) (3rd); 25.57 (0.8) (P);
3000m: Matilda L'Estrange 10:26.53 (2nd);
100m Hurdles: Annalise Jones 17.41 (-2.3) (5th);
400m Hurdles: Charlee Dickson 74.88 (4th); Annalise Jones 80.33 (6th);
Discus: Keira Sanchez 33.00m (6th); Tara Smith 30.53m (7th);
Hammer: Keira Sanchez 47.32m (2nd); Tara Smith 41.12m (3rd);
Javelin: Tara Smith 36.95m (3rd);
Shot Put: Keira Sanchez 11.82m (4th);
W17
100m: Alexia Moxon 14.96 (0.4) (P);
800m: Ally Brooks 2:12.74 (2nd); 2:22.86 (P); Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 2:20.47 (5th); 2:22.69 (P);
1500m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 4:50.22 (7th);
2000m Steeple: Ally Brooks 7:41.28 (3rd);
400m Hurdles: Jamieson Lander 67.34 (2nd);
Discus: Vanessa Smith 28.56m (5th);
Hammer: Vanessa Smith 35.48m (4th);
High Jump: Hayley Sposato 1.60m (2nd);
Javelin: Vanessa Smith 35.97m (1st);
Pole Vault: Alexia Moxon 2.00m (5th);
W16
100m: Maddy Meagher 13.48 (0.5) (7th); 12.51 (1.8) (P);
800m: Georgia L'Estrange 2:33.59 (P);
1500m: Georgia L'Estrange 5:24.91 (11th); Luella Wood 5:30.73 (12th);
3000m: Luella Wood 11:49.35 (7th);
Discus: Amelia Di Benedetto 26.24m (8th);
High Jump: Keira Caddy 1.40m (7th);
Javelin: Amelia Di Benedetto DNS;
Long Jump: Maddy Meagher DNS;
Shot Put: Amelia Di Benedetto 8.98m (8th);
W15
100m: Rebecca Hvalica 12.87 (-0.4) (3rd); 12.82 (-0.4) (P);
200m: Rebecca Hvalica 26.59 (-0.9) (3rd); 26.97 (-0.9) (P);
3000m: Matilda Johnson 10:40.58 (3rd);
Discus: Zoey Ryan 18.89m (8th);
Hammer: Zoey Ryan 34.12m (1st); Hanna Rowe 30.47m (3rd);
Javelin: Ines Caton-Smith 27.81m (2nd); Zoey Ryan 25.23m (3rd);
Shot Put: Zoey Ryan 9.20m (4th);
W14
1500m: Matilda Johnson 4:59.74 (4th);
WP17
100m: Kirra Wright 15.60 (-0.1) (1st);
200m: Kirra Wright 32.64 (0.9) (1st);
400m: Kirra Wright 81.89 (1st);
Long Jump: Kirra Wright 3.74m (0.2) (1st);
Men:
M18
200m: Riley Neecowen 23.70 (1.2) (P);
400m: Riley Neecowen 50.74 (6th); 50.21 (P);
5000m Walk: Joel Imbriano 27:28.07 (3rd);
Long Jump: Zachariah Margiolakis DNS;
Triple Jump: Zachariah Margiolakis DNS;
M17
3000m: Rhodri Whelan 10:51.74 (10th);
Discus: Asher Andrews 42.98m (1st); Milun Fernando DNS;
Javelin: Asher Andrews 48.00m (1st); Milun Fernando 44.91m (3rd);
Long Jump: Asher Andrews 4.88m (-0.2) (8th);
Shot Put: Asher Andrews 13.27m (2nd); Milun Fernando 11.29m (4th);
M16
800m: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 2:06.44 (P);
1500m: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 4:16.24 (9th);
Discus: Paora Okirua 33.38m (6th);
Shot Put: Paora Okirua 16.27m (1st);
M15
1500m: Felix Morgan 4:56.89 (11th); Oscar Mielicki 5:24.17 (14th);
3000m: Felix Morgan 11:03.56 (12th);
3000m Walk: Max Davidson 15:18.36 (1st);
Discus: Chehan Udugampala 33.90m (7th);
Hammer: Chehan Udugampala 25.57m (4th);
Javelin: Chehan Udugampala 24.41m (7th);
Shot Put: Chehan Udugampala 9.75m (9th);
M14
3000m Walk: Jaime Hvalica 16:24.03 (1st);
