BENDIGO Harriers and Eaglehawk earned second place in their respective divisions of Athletics Victoria Shield League run in Bendigo on Saturday afternoon.
The Harriers tally of 11,554 points was not far behind Wyndham’s mark of 13,378 in division three. Eaglehawk and Chilwell were again at the top of the pecking order in division two.
The Hawks scored 23,903 points as Chilwell was number one on 25,521.
South Bendigo racked up 14,284 to be 10th in Premier division as Bendigo University scored 1187 points in division four.
Records were set or matched in another top day of competition for Flack Advisory Bendigo Region at the La Trobe University Bendigo athletics complex in Retreat Road.
The meet drew 82 competitors of which Eaglehawk was represented by 32 athletes, South Bendigo by 23; Bendigo Harriers by 19; and Bendigo University by three.
Athletes from Athletics Chilwell, Melbourne University and Shepparton were also in action.
Records, Records, Records
Among the many highlights was the record-breaking achievement by Rebecca Soulsby from Bendigo Harriers at shot put.
A mark of 9.06 metres broke the Centre record for the 40-plus class. Soulsby is a newcomer to Harriers this season.
Eaglehawk’s James Bentley ran the 400m in 50.43 to equal the Centre record for under-17 held by South Bendigo’s Jake Hilson since 2015. The record-breaking run by Eaglehawk’s Kathryn Heagney rolled on.
Now competing in the 70-plus class, Heagney set records for the 100m, 800m and shot put in her latest hit-outs at LUBAC.
A dozen athletes from Bendigo Region clubs featured in the top 10 of the round’s Most Valuable Athlete standings.
Eaglehawk’s Terry Hicks led the way on 1253 points to be 14th as clubmates David Chisholm, 1216 19th, and Jorja Morrison, 1203 23rd continued their outstanding seasons.
James Woods led the charge for South Bendigo on 1181 points to be 28th.
Next best were Bendigo Harriers’ Monique Gavriliadis, 1148 35th; Eaglehawk’s Kathryn Heagney, 1138 37th; and South Bendigo’s Joan Self, 1136 38th.
Scarlet Southern, 1131 40th, William Beaton, 1122 42nd; and Rosy Marsh, 1116 46th, starred for Eaglehawk.
The in-form Jake Gavriliadis from Harriers scored 1078 points to be 57th, as South Bendigo’s Emma Orme was 78th on 1027.
Other athletes to stand-out included Shepparton’s Antonio Vaitohi, 100m in 11.29; Bendigo Harriers’ Jake Gavriliadis and Monique Gavriladis, 13.68m and 10.97m at shot put; South Bendigo’s James Woods, 11.70m, and Eaglehawk’s Rosy Marsh, 10.60m at triple jump.
Harriers’ sprint star Abbey Conquer raced in a wind of -4.5 to clock 13.51 in her 100m victory.
Other highs were wins by South Bendigo’s Trudy Haines, 8.35m at shot put; Eaglehawk’s William Beaton, 11.79m at triple jump; Harriers’ Anne Buckley in the 3000m; and Eaglehawk’s Adam Peters, 1.60m at high jump.