The first meet of the new year saw a season high attendance and this generally translates into good results and so it proved again. All of our senior teams, with the exception of Division 2 men who were second, won the round in their respective divisions - Division 3 men, Division 4 men and our women's team. These results locked in a finals place for all of our senior teams for the second year in a row, third year in a row for all three men's teams

After two years absence with injury Rohan King took to the track for the first time this season. A very talented middle distance and endurance athlete, King is also an excellent thrower and he recorded third place in the Division 3 Hammer. Carmel Taylor made her track debut after playing a pivotal role in the success of our women's cross country team and their promotion to Division 1. Taylor brings much needed depth to the distance squad and her class was outlined with first place in the 3000 metres. King and Taylor will be very important athletes for the team's chances of success in the finals should they succeed in their late bid to qualify

Notable performances came from Megan Marsh who was first in the High Jump, in Division 2 Shane Jansen won the 3000 metres and Adam Larsson took out the 400 metres. Philip Van Dueren was first in Division 3 High Jump and Mohamed Reese won the Javelin in Division 4. Steven Collyer came second in the High Jump for Division 2, John Braszell was runner up in the 400 metres for Division 3 and Daniella Modesti was second in the women's 3000 metres. In Division 2, Jay Blake came third in 400 metres, Liam Shepherd was third in the Javelin while Rey Villegas was third in the 3000 metres for Division Four

It was a night of high drama with Bec Collyer fainting at the end of her relay leg, but pulled up fine after a rest. We saw Jackie Steel put in an excellent 3,000 metres performance that could stamp this event as her own come finals time. And a lighter moment was provided by the boys from Benny Tancredi's stable in the 800 metres who each strolled around in 2:30 or so - all four finishing together on the line, much to the ire of an official who said he would much rather "be at the beach"

So at the end of the round, our Division 2 men have drawn level on points with the second placed team. Another strong turnout next Tuesday should see us draw clear and take outright second spot. Our Division 3 men have drawn further ahead on top of their ladder, while victory in Division Four has us in striking distance of first place. We would need to win the last three meets to overtake the top team there. And our Division Two women continue to sweep all before them with another big victory now putting them ten points clear on top of their ladder

STOP PRESS

North West Region have scheduled a make up meet for the one lost to rain in Round 8. This will now be held on Tuesday, 29 January from 6:00 pm. It will be Program 2, which means the last two rounds of the season will be run off this program. It affords an opportunity for those on the cusp of qualification for the finals one more chance to qualify and be a part of finals action on Saturday, 2 February 2008

DATES TO REMEMBER

Tuesday, 15 January 2008    AV Shield Round 10 at Aberfeldie from 6:00 pm - Program 1

Tuesday, 22 January 2008    AV Shield Round 11 at Aberfeldie from 6:00 pm - Program 2

Tuesday, 29 January 2008    AV Shield Round 8 at Aberfeldie from 6:00 pm - Program 2

Many of you would have received or are about to receive a letter saying the election of our winter committee will take place on Tuesday, 29 January 2008. With the scheduling of an AV Shield Meet, this election will now take place on Tuesday, 5 February 2008 from 7:30 pm at the clubrooms. Please make a note of it

Some photo's from the last round of competition have just been posted to the club's Facebook  (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4755774335) and MySpace (http://groups.myspace.com/coburgharriers) groups. Check them out today!