Victorian Open & U20 Track & Field Championships
Olympic Park : 8 - 10 February 2008  

The Coburg Harriers had two representativea at this year's Victorian Track & Field Championships. Competing in the 5,000 metre Walk was Tim Erickson and Jeremy Grey in the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres

First up for the Harriers was Jeremy Grey in the 1500 metres on the opening night. Conditions were overcast and a cool 16 degrees so almost ideal. Grey was drawn in the third heat. The first two heats were called and prepared on the track for their race while competitors in heat 3 waited in the Call Room

It was at this point that a very heavy downpour delayed the start by twenty minutes. Then, almost as Heat 1 were lining up to start more heavy rain delayed the start yet further by another twenty minutes. In the space of half an hour, the temperature had dropped to twelve degrees!

In the end, Heat 3 was called onto the track and athletes were underway. Grey placed himself toward the rear of the pack going through the first 300 in 49 seconds. A 71 second second lap saw 2 minutes on the clock with two laps to go. Grey started to fall off the pack here and a 74 second third lap saw 3:14 on the clock at the bell. Despite having the ability to finish races strongly, Grey had a horror last lap of 76 seconds to finsh in 4:30.51 - almost a second slower than his season best

Grey finished twelfth in his heat and 36th overall. In the end it was an encouraging performance from an athlete that has only been back in full training for six weeks after a knee injury meant Grey missed half the summer season. Last year at these champs Grey ran 4:17 and hopefully he can get closer to that form as he gets more training under the belt

On the Saturday, two Coburg Harriers were in action. First up was Tim Erickson in the 5,000 metre Wallk. Erickson had not competed in a 5,000 metre Walk this season and was keen to see how he would perform.

In a fiield that included Chris Erickson - who at the finish would lap all but the second placegetter - Tim did extremely well to finish with 27:53.12 and seventh place. In a titanic battle with a competitor from Diamond Valley this tough event eventually saw Tim's opponent unable to finish. Regrettable given that both walkers were locked in an engaging struggle and were using each other quite well through the early and middle stages

Tim's performance is a new club age group record, and can be claimed at Men's 55-59, but also at Men's 50-54, 45-49 and M40-44. It ranks nicely with the 3,000 metre Walk club age group record that Erickson broke nopt once, but twice earlier this Summer in AV Shield competition

The last performance from the Coburg Harriers at these Champs was Jeremy Grey in the 5,000 metres B Race. In perfect conditions, Grey lined up with a very strong list of fifteen runners, six of whom would later post sub 16 minute times. and the top ten come in at under 16:30. Not bad for a "B" race. Inerestingly, the top 7 in the B race were all quicker than the last placed runner of the elite event

Grey started off with a runner from Richmond Harriers and completed the first kilometre in 3:18. The next two kilometres passed with a pair of 3:20's and with five laps to go, Grey was on track for 16:40

However it was from this point that a lack of sustained training started to take effect and Grey fell away from the Richmond runner who would go on to record 16:38. Out by himself, Grey put in a strong last lap to finish with 16:50.53 for twelfth place

As a result of displaying the Coburg Harriers banner at the Championships, the club won two tickets to the Melbourne Grand Prix atheltics meeting and one lucky Harrier will win one of these tickets. Details soon

The Coburg Harriers would like to thank new member Marc Chew for taking the time to attend the event and lend his support in the stands. Thanks mate and hope you enjoyed the day. Some of the pictures below are courtesy of Marc

Tim Erickson - start line of 5,000 m Walk

Tim Erickson wth 300 metres to go

Tim Erickson with victorious son Chris

Jeremy Grey on the start line of the 5,000 metre B race

Jeremy Grey making steady progress at the one kilometre mark

JeremyGrey looks towards the last 200 metres