GOLDEN WEEKEND AT LAKESIDE

Elyssia Kenshole cleared 3.99m to win the W20 Pole Vault

Week 2 of the 2021 Victorian Track & Field Championships produced the best Gold rush for Diamond Valley since the original gold finding at Diamond Creek in 1863. Valley athletes stepped up on the podium to present themselves with the winner's medal on eight occasions. There were also three Silver medals and five Bronze medals won over the course of the second weekend of the Championships at Lakeside. Added to the three Gold, six Silver and three Bronze medals won at Weekend 1 of the Championships, the total medal haul for the 2021 Championships was 11 Gold, 9 Silver and 8 Bronze. The most valuable outcome of the Championships was the exposure to competition at this level gained by a total of 39 DVAC athletes over the two weeks. The number of DVAC athletes competing in Week 2 was 27: 16 Women and 11 Men.

MONICA BRENNAN CLAIMS FIFTH TITLE WIN IN THE 200m

Given her long road back from injury concerns, it was a delight to see Monica Brennan claim the Open Women's 200m title in a hard fought final. Monica had won her way through to the final by winning the Heat in 24.41 and the Semi final in 24.14. In an exciting final, only 0.03 second separated the three medal winners, with Monica prevailing in 24.07 This win gave Monica her fifth title in the 200m State Championship. Monica has represented Australia in the 2010 Youth Olympic Games, the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships and qualified for the 4x400m relay team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. A long and proud history already but the win on the weekend at Lakeside did seem to be a special one for Monica.

CLARKE GOES GOLD AGAIN

Jack Clarke added the 200m State title at this year's Victorian Championships to the 400m title he won last week. Clarke won his Heat of the Men Under 20 200m in 22.27 and later backed this up with his first sub 22 second run in the Final. Clarke crossed the line in 21.81 to win by a margin of .09 and lower his previous best time by 0.29 second. Coached by Rod Kelly, Clarke is having a breakthrough season in both the 400m and the 200m.

Charl Louwren, Men Under 17, is another member of the Kelly Krew to enjoy a successful weekend. Charl went under 24 seconds for the first time in his Heat of the 200m clocking 23.27. In the Final, Charl finished 8th in a time of 23.40.

HAVE TALENT, WILL THROW

In Weekend 1 of the Vic Champs, Kiera Sanchez won Bronze medals in the Hammer Throw and the Shot Put. In Weekend 2, Kiera won the Gold medal in the Women Under 16 Discus with a best throw of 31.99m. This achievement came despite Kiera having to employ a standing throw because the compulsory spraying of the Discus with sanitiser made them slippery in the hand.

Calvin Meaden, Men Under 20, won Bronze medals in the Hammer Throw and the Shot Put last week and added to the medal tally this week with a Silver medal in the Discus, 39.92m, and a Bronze medal in the Javelin, 41.54m. Both results go down as a personal best effort given that Calvin has graduated to the 1.75kg weight for the Discus and the 800gm with the Javelin

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Emma Butler, Women Open, had her final competition with the Javelin before she books in for a much needed Shoulder operation. Showing great courage, Emma still managed a throw of 43.23m and came away with a Bronze medal.

Vanessa Smith, Women Under 15, stepped up to the 500gm weight with the Javelin and still threw a personal best distance of 31.37m to win a Gold medal. Sister, Tara Smith, Women Under 16, also threw a personal best distance with the Javelin with a distance of 30.25. Both girls are coached by Matt Hall.

KIRRA MAKES IT FOUR GOLD

Kirra Wright, Women Para Under 15, put her athletic skills on show again in Weekend 2 of the Victorian Championships. Kirra, 12 Years old, a T38 athlete, added to the 100m and 400m Gold medals she won in Week 1 of the Vic Champs, with wins in the 200m, 33.89, and the Long Jump, 3.71m.

POLE VAULT MEDALS

Elyssia Kenshole, Women Under 20, won the Pole Vault with a clearance over 3.99m. Her three attempts at 4.07m were full of promise with Elyssia getting well above the bar but clipping it on the way down or on the way up.

Elsie Clifford, Women Under 18, won a Bronze medal in the Pole Vault with a clearance over 3.05m, a new personal best. Both Elsie and Elyssia are coached by Bill Georgantas.

MADDISON NASH WINS THE UNDER 16 WALK

Maddison Nash won the Women Under 16 3000m Walk in a time of 15:33.58.

OTHER VALLEY MEDAL WINNERS:

• Silver: Ally Brooks – Women Under 15 800m (2:21.67); Katie Oliver – Women Under 16 200m (26.28);
• Bronze: Matilda L'Estrange – Women Under 16 3000m (10:54.91); Fieke Van Der Kamp – Women Under 18 3000m (10:26.53);

Thanks to Helpers

DVAC met all the expectations of Athletics Victoria for our club to provide Club Helpers over the weekend. A big vote of Thanks for a job well done to the following: Darren Mills, Tony Kenshole, Lucinda Derrett, Susanne Derrett, Rob Wendel, Lyn Davis, Peter Van Der Kamp, Fieke Van Der Kamp, Matilda L'Estrange, Maryann Murray, Paula Merino, Max Balchin, Damien Clifford, Shania Murray, Caden Murray

DVAC Officals:

The AV Officials did a wonderful job again on the weekend. The presentation of the Championships in such a professional and supportive manner is something that AV should be congratulated on. Among those Officlals were DVAC's own: Jeff Hughes, Andrew Stirling, Paul Schofield, & Stuart Schnaars.

Acknowledgements

Article by Max Balchin. Results by Athletics Victoria. Photos by Jazz Deol.

Results: Women

Results: Men