EAGLEHAWK was the number one team in Premier division across Saturday’s third round of Athletics Victoria Shield League track and field action.
The Hawks scored 40,904 points to claim the maximum 10 points and join Glenhuntly in equal first place in the premiership race on 35 points.
It was another superb performance by athletes in the famous two blue colours as they outscored Essendon 39,956; Glenhuntly 38,566; Diamond Valley 31,836; and Doncaster 27,016.
In division two, Western Athletics led the way on 23,708 as Bendigo Harriers scored 21,419 to be fifth.
South Bendigo was seventh in the division two standings on 17,329 points.
Bendigo University Pride scored 1791 to be sixth in division five where Williamstown and Maccabi led the way on 5509 and 4072 points.
Athletes across a wide range of age groups in Bendigo Region featured in the AVSL most valuable athlete award.
The consistent Terry Hicks was Eaglehawk’s leading points-getter on 1350 and ninth in this round’s MVA standings.
Bendigo Harriers was led by super-veteran Geoff Shaw, 1296 to be 21st as clubmate Brett Gilligan marked his first hit-out at the Flor Hill track this season to score 1180 points and be 63rd.
Now competing in the 60-plus class, South Bendigo’s Carol Coad scored 1129 points to be 78th.
The versatility of many Eaglehawk athletes was again to the fore as another nine from the club were in the MVA’s top 100.
Stars for the Borough were Angus McKindlay 1259 31st; David Chisholm 1256 34th; Jorja Morrison 1195 53rd; Denise Snyder 1183 59th; Cameron Smith 1174 64th; Olivia Graham 1110 89th; Lachlan Start 1108 91st; Julia Hattingh 1103 92nd; and William Beaton 1090 100th.
More Bendigo Centre records were broken at Saturday’s meet at the Retreat Road complex.
A young star at Bendigo Harriers, Liam Shadbolt cleared two metres at high jump to set a new Bendigo Centre record for the under-15 age group.
It was another superb performance from the teenager who is from near Swan Hill and earned the Geoff Major Rising Star award for the 2020-21 season.
At hammer throw, Hailey Stubbs from Bendigo Harriers achieved a mark of 36.17 metres to set a Bendigo under-14 record.
Stubbs is from Kyneton and has shown great form in the opening rounds of the AVSL 2021-22 campaign.
Eaglehawk’s Craig Graham set a Bendigo 50-plus record with a mark of 35.65 metres.
Not only is Graham a top competitor in hammer throw, but also plays a key role as an official for several throws disciplines.
Feature event on the track was the Eaglehawk Floral Boutique-sponsored Ern Hammer Memorial 3000m.
The 7 ½ lap contest drew 15 starters for the non-AVSL scoring race.
A multiple winner of Bendigo Athletics Club championships, Ricky Ermel from Bendigo Harriers raced from the 1.20 mark and charged to victory in 12:13.66.
Shepparton’s Glenn McMillan was the second backmarker from 4.55 and put in a great fight to be runner-up in 9:26.44.
Third placegetter was Harriers’ veteran Jill Wilkie in 11:15 from the 3:10 mark as clubmate and consistent distance runner Anne Buckley was fourth in 12:16 off a 2:10 mark.
University Pride’s Ned Buckell raced from the backmark of 5:40 and put in a strong showing to be fifth in 8:54.16.
Saturday’s meet drew 130 competitors.
In the 200m action, Abbey Conquer from Bendigo Harriers did just that as she took out heat one in 27.06 seconds from Eaglehawk’s Laura Kadri, 27.32.
Despite the windy conditions, South Bendigo’s Oliver Muggleton and Eaglehawk’s Kye Mason had a great duel in their 200m heat.
Muggleton charged to the line in 22.93 as Mason clocked 23.03.
At the hammer, Eaglehawk’s Olivia Graham again passed the 50m mark.
Discus tips from Emma Berg have played a big part in Jasper Seymour’s improvement in the event.
Berg hit a mark of 39.01m in flight four as Seymour made it a South Bendigo quinella as he reached 34.49 metres.
Eaglehawk’s Lachlan Start led the way at long jump as he hit the 6.10m in flight two.
Others to perform well at long jump included Eaglehawk’s Angus McKindlay, 5.72m; Denise Snyder, 4.91m; and Jorja Morrison, 4.69m.
Results:
