VALLEY STRIKES AT WENDOUREE
Lake Wendouree proved to be a happy hunting ground for Diamond Valley Athletic Club athletes who made the journey to Ballarat for Round 8 of the Athletics Victoria Winter season. Shania Murray won the first Winter Open age medal in the history of the Diamond Valley Athletic Club when she finished second in the Open Women’s 15km Road Race. Matilda L’Estrange scored her first Gold medal in AV competition by winning the Women’s Under 18 6km Road Race and Ally Brooks won the Silver medal in the Women’s Under 16 6km Road Race. Team victories in the Men 60+ Short Course, the Women U18 and Women Under 16 divisions as well as a host of other areas of success on the day all made for a happy crew in the Valley tent.
SHANIA ON THE MOVE
Shania Murray, 23, is competing in her first full season of Open age competition due to Covid restrictions over the previous two years, was delighted with the result. Shania went under the AV arch at the end of the 15km Road Race in 53:41.
“That’s my first podium result. My previous best result was the 6th place at Cruden Farm. The pace was good, averaging 3’35” for the 15km and I still felt strong at the end. I knew I was going well when I went through the 10km in 35’30” which was right on for the 10km at Albert Park. My last km was a 3’22”.
Asked why she had raced so well, Shania said, “I went into the race quite aggressive and confident. I was hoping for a top 5 finish. And I had put in some good training sessions in the week leading up to Ballarat. After I made the move into second place at around the 3km mark I felt reasonably confident although the footsteps of some of the men coming up did have me thinking.”
Shania will now look to doing well at the next event on the AV Calendar, the Half Marathon at Burnley.
JUNIOR MEDALS
Matilda L’Estrange (WU18) & Ally Brooks (WU16) each won their first individual medals for the 2022 Winter season.
Matilda won the Women Under 18 6km Road Race in 22:47. The strength of her second half of the race was evidenced by the fact she did not take the lead until the 3km mark and yet crossed 46 seconds ahead of the second place getter. The win moves Matilda into second place on the 2022 Champion athlete ladder, only one point behind the leader. The season Championship for the Women Under 18 will come down to the 5km Road Race at Burnley.
Combined with team mate Sugi Neecowen (7th in 27:34), the pair won the team points for the Women Under 18 and extend their lead on the season ladder to 6 points with two rounds remaining.
Ally ran the 6km Lap of the Lake in 23:39 to cross in second place and claim her first podium spot for the season. Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (5th in 24:01) and Jamieson Lander (7th in 25:14) completed the WU16 team the won top team honours on the day. The WU16 team will go into Round 9 in top position with a 5 point margin ahead of the team from Mornington.
Georgia L’Estrange (11th in 27:28) enjoyed her best race for the season. Her average pace for the 6km has come down to 4:30/km.
MEN 60+ (SHORT COURSE) NOTCH ANOTHER WIN
An injury to Rob Wendel meant that Lyal Douglas and Greg Luck would need to fly the flag in the Men 60+ (Short Course) without their full line-up. Not a worry! Lyal Douglas (4th in 29:04) & Greg Luck (5th in 31:41) were able to top the points for the Short Course competition at Lake Wendouree. The 11 points they earned puts a stranglehold of 15 points on their nearest challenger for the season Championship with two rounds remaining.
Peter Ramsay finished in 6th position in the Men 60+ 15km Road Race in a time of 1:04:03.
DVAC TEAM PLACES AT LAKE WENDOUREE
Women:
Div 2 – 5th/ 12; 15km:Shania Murray 53:41; Merlina Hession 1:06:44; Debbie McKenzie 1:14:51; Jo Moxon 1:27:10;
Div 4 – 7th/10; 15km:Gayle Clifford 1:49:24;
U18 – 1st/6; 6km: Matilda L'Estrange 22:47; Sugi NeeCowen 27:34;
U16 – 1st /16; 6km: Ally Brooks 23:39; Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 24:01; Jamieson Lander 25:14;
U16 – 6th/16; 6km: Georgia L'Estrange 27:28;
40+ - 13th/26; Debbie McKenzie 1:14:51; Jo Moxon 1:27:10; Gayle Clifford 1:49:24;
50+ - 6th/17; Debbie McKenzie 1:14:51; Jo Moxon 1:27:10; Gayle Clifford 1:49:24;
Men:
Div 2 – 7th/13; 15km: Tim Logan 49:14; Caden Murray 49:44; Dylan Littlejohn 56:20; Aaron Scot-Dalgleish 59:00; Matthew Thompson 1:00:00; Rory McPhillips 1:01:55;
Div 5 – 4th/ 13; 15km: Peter Ramsay 1:04:03; Aaron Bourne 1:05:38; Andrew McKenzie 1:08:24; Damien Clifford 1:14:38;
40+ - 25th/58; 15km: Aaron Scot-Dalgleish 59:00; Peter Ramsay 1:04:03; Aaron Bourne 1:05:38;
40+ - 38th/58; 15km: Andrew McKenzie 1:08:24; Damien Clifford 1:14:38;
50+ - 10th/34; 15km: Aaron Scot-Dalgleish 59:00; Peter Ramsay 1:04:03; Andrew McKenzie 1:08:24;
50+ - 32nd/34; 15km: Damien Clifford 1:14:38;
60+ - 10th/16; 15km: Peter Ramsay 1:04:03;
M60+ (Short Course) – 1st/6; 6km: Lyal Douglas 29:04; Greg Luck 31:41;
U20 – 9th/9; 6km: Dillon Vidanapathirana 33:08;
U18 – 4th/11; 6km: Tyler Murphy 20:59; Jordan Rudd 25:00;
U16 – 5th/12; 6km: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 22:33; Rhodri Whelan 23:57;
TOP 10 AT BALLARAT (other than those already mentioned)
Ethan Armstrong-Bourne MU16 6km 22:33 6th
Aaron Scot-Dalgleish M50+ 15km 59:00 8th
SPECIAL THANKS
The Valley tent was in prime position by the time our athletes arrived. This was due to the wonderful support we get from DAVID ARMSTRONG.
LEIGH MURPHY was out and about all day getting a stack of great photos of the DVAC athletes in action. Look for them on the DVAC Facebook.
The Valley table groaned with the collection of food brought along by our members. It was all appreciated. Thanks to all who contributed & thanks to MARYANN MURRAY for her coordination.
DVAC is not required to supply any Club Helpers at the Burnley Half Marathon/ 5km Road Race on Sunday, September 4th 2022.
DVAC is required to supply TWO Club Helpers at the Tan Relays on Saturday 17 September 2022. Feel free to get in early & grab a spot. Let Max know on 0409 350 280.
WHAT’S COMING UP
Saturday 27 August Australian Cross Country Championships Adelaide
Wednesday 31 August Northern Zone (Secondary) T&F Finals Meadowglen
4 September XCR 9 – Road Races (Half Mara & 5km) Burnley
Saturday Sept 10 DVAC Yellow Gum Challenge Yellow Gum Park,Plenty
Saturday 17 Sept XCR 10 – Tan Relays The Tan
Thursday Sept 22 Willinda Classic (3km/ 1km/ 10km) Willinda Park
