Bendigo athletes soar in Most Valuable Athlete race for 2021-22 AVSL

ALMOST a fifth of the top 100 in this season’s most valuable athlete (MVA) award in Athletics Victoria Shield League is from Bendigo Region.

The outstanding form of Eaglehawk, Bendigo Harriers and South Bendigo in their divisions of AVSL is reflected in the race for the MVA title.

The top 20 features Eaglehawk veterans Terry Hicks and David Chisholm; Bendigo Harriers’ super-veteran Geoff Shaw; and Hawks’ rising star Cameron Smith.

A top competitor in track and field, Hicks plays a key role as coach at Eaglehawk YMCA Athletics Club and as general manager for Athletics Bendigo.

After six rounds of AVSL, Hicks has scored 8233 points to be fifth in the MVA standings.

A World Masters decathlon champion for the 70-plus age group, Shaw’s jumping ability has played a big part in scoring 7977 to be seventh in the most valuable athlete race.

Chisholm’s consistency and versatility has racked up 7632 points to be 13^th and being a key part of the Hawks’ flight to hold third place on the Premier division ladder.

A newcomer to track and field, Smith has shone in sprints and jumps to score 7387 points and be 19^th.

When not training or competing at athletics, Smith is a keen soccer player for Spring Gully.

Other members of Eaglehawk AC to be in AVSL’s top 100 of the MVA are William Beaton 34^th, 6955; Jorja Morrison 38^th, 6848; Alyssa Beaton 65^th, 6345; Angus McKindlay 72^nd, 6266; Antony Langdon 93^rd, 5935; and Olivia Graham 98^th, 5832.

Bendigo Harriers has also starred in most rounds to be second in the division two premiership race after earning promotion from a successful 2020-21 campaign.

Stars for the Harriers in their run to the 100^th year celebrations have been Jake Gavriliadis, 6954 points to be 54^th; Peter Clarke 74^th, 6250; and Neil Shaw 79^th, 6128.

South Bendigo is sixth on the division two ladder and yet to use the Powerplay where it doubles premiership points earned for that round.

A strength of the South Bendigo line-up is in the women’s 40-plus squad which has four members in the MVA’s top 100.

Those to lead the way for the team in red and white have been Carol Coad 44^th, 6684; Joan Self 57^th, 6503; Jennifer Payne 58^th, 6432; and Trudy Haines 75^th, 6231.

Athletics Bendigo’s track action resumes on Tuesday, January 4 when 3000m and 1000m races are run from 7pm as part of the A.L. Parker Electrical-backed Tuesday Night Series at the Retreat Road complex in Flora Hill.

A twilight meet on Saturday, January 8 at Flora Hill will feature the G.M. and G.L. Hilson-sponsored Sally Conroy Memorial 200m, and the A.L. Parker Electrical-backed Richard Kitt Memorial 1500m.

Racing starts at 7pm and includes the Little Athletics 200m and 800m sponsored by Intersport Bicknell’s.

Shield League action returns on January 15 when a twilight meet will be run.

A hectic January includes Bendigo hosting the St Anne’s-sponsored Victoria Country track and field titles on January 28 to 30.