VALLEY RUNNERS BRAVE ON ALL FRONTS

2024 NATIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

                  Eight Diamond Valley Athletic Club athletes competed in the 2024 Cross Country Championships on Saturday 31 August at Symmons Plains, Launceston. Driving to the course from Launceston, the backdrop of snow capped mountains should have been a warning that this Championship would be different.

The 2km and 3km courses set by Athletics Australia were challenging and technical right throughout, from the uphill climb to start with, and followed by the constant demands of negotiating stretches of mud, sharp inclines and sudden twists and turns. As if that were not enough, wild winds buffeted the runners along the way and the later events faced a full force rainstorm that left all on the course drenched and cold.

Jordan Rudd, T20, was the first DVAC athlete to compete and his fourth placing in the Para T20 3km Cross Country was the best of the Valley results on the day. Jordan ran the 3km in 13:23.

Shania Murray, Women’s Open, kept up a consistent and steady pace throughout the 10km race and she finished in 19^th position in a field of 41. Shania completed the 10km in 43:17.

Brodie Batt, MU16, ran at his first National Championships and handled the challenge with success. Brodie finished the 4km in 15:28 to place 23^rd in a field of 57.

Matilda Johnson, FU15 finished her 4km race strongly to cross in 12^th place in a time of 17:03. Grace Robinson, FU15, came through in 18:05 to place 21^st in a field of 56. This was the first National Championship experience for Grace.

Rose Jarvis, FU16, ran in the same race as the FU15 and FU16 fields were combined to make a total number of runners of 111. Rose finished in 26^th position in the U16 field of 57. Her time for the 4km was 17:46.

Ethan Armstrong -Bourne, MU17, and Cameron Ellis, MU18, were starters in a combined field of 109 runners. Racing was often complicated by large packs of runners contending with the mud and the tight turns. Both athletes passed the test with honours. Ethan finished in 24^th place in the MU17 field of 54 at his first National Championships experience. He ran the 6km in 23:10. Cameron crossed in 28^thposition in the MU18 field of 55. Cameron covered the 6km in 23:22.

On the Sunday, Matilda Johnson returned to Symmons Plains to run as a member of a Mixed U18 4 x 2000m Relay team that finished in 4^th place. The team covered the 8km in 31:02.

2024 Australian Cross Country Championships

Symmons Plains Raceway, Launceston, Tasmania

Saturday 31 August 2024

DVAC Results:

Female:

Senior 10km XC:         

Shania Murray                                   43:17:                                      19^th place:         Field of 41         

Under 15 4km XC:                       

Matilda Johnson                              17:34:                                      12^th place:         Field of 56

Grace Robinson                               18:05:                                      21^st place:          Field of 56

Under 16 4km XC:                       

Rose Jarvis                                            17:46:                                      26^th place:         Field of 57

Male:

U20 T20 Para 3km XC:

Jordan Rudd                                        13:23 (28.10%):            4^th place:            Field of 10

Under 16 4km XC:     

Brodie Batt                                            15:28:                                      23^rd place:         Field of 57

Under 17 6km XC:     

Ethan Armstrong-Bourne:       23:10:                                      24^th place:         Field of 54

Under 18 6km XC:

Cameron Ellis                                    23:22                                        28^th place:         Field of 55