Athletics Victoria XCR08 Series
Tan Relays - 20 September 2008
Alexandra Avenue, Melbourne

Beautiful spring weather greeted athletes for the last round of the Athletics Vicroria Road and Cross Counrty season. The club had their biggest representation since early in the season, with three complete mens teams and one complete women's team. The club also fielded two additional teams but both were incomplete

There was a comedy of errors at the start of the race when the first division runners took the warning whistle as the starting signal and started the race! Bizarrely they weren't called back and the race continued

Men's Division Three were started off by Jeremy Grey who was disappointed to finish several seconds slower than last year with 12.40. Grey handed over to Liam Magee with the team in fourth place. Like at the Sandown Relays, Magee improved on this as he passed an opposition runner on his way to recording 13:07

Next off was Glenn Carroll with the team lying third. In his first race back for the club following his recent marriage, Carroll did very well with the sixth fastest time for Division 3 on this leg with 14.17. Philip van Dueren was involved in yet another changeover drama after finishing his leg as the fourth runner in 14.08 before John Braszell anchored the boys home with a scintillating 13.30 and fourth place. It is the club's best ever result for Division 3 at the Tan and their best result in a Relay for several seasons 

The second team (Division 4) was led off by sprinter David Woods and he recorded a time that would have beaten two runners home in the club's first team! Woods' 13.59 had the team in fifth place at the first changeover. Next off was youngster Josh Persson who put in a big effort to record 14.44 and maintain their fifth placing. Rob Virgona put in a solid performance with this 16.20 before handing over to Jeff Sharam. In an encourgaing performance, Sharam ran 16.25 before handing over to anchor Mark Kelly. A gutsy performance by Kelly who drove up from a family holiday on the down the coast just to run this event. His 15.08 was an excellent time and took almost a minute off of his 2007 performance . In the end the team would finish ninth

Division Five Men were led off by Daniel Norris who ran 18.53 to hand over to Ken Souyave with the team in thirteenth place. Souyave ran well to record 14.49 with Brian Delaney next off. The coach ran 16.12 before anchor Edwin Cheung improved the club's position with a quick 15.42 to bring the team home in tenth place

For the women's team, Stacey Van Dueren's 14.43 had the team placed sixth before handing over to Sheree Sharam in only her third run for her injury interrupted season. Sharam would have been pleased with her 16.32 with Daniella Modesti off next. Modesti posted 17.34 for Jo Francken anchored the team home in 17.33

A tough winter season for our women's team and they finished the season in last place. Their best result for the season came not surprisingly at the Half Marathon where they recorded eighth place. The team could ill afford to lose runners after being promoted last year, and they were affected by the loss to injury and work commitments of several athletes who could well have made the difference - especially when just one place higher at each of the events would have ensured their survival in this very competitive division. The club will now look to once again build their women's squad over the summer and make an assault on promotion in Division 2 in season 2009

For the men's teams, most finished mid table in what was a very strange season. The first half of the season the club was well supported with strong numbers, but the results did not seem to fall our way. And yet as the season progressed, numbers dwindled - often to a point not seem for some years - however the performances improved. Men's Division Three finished third at both finished third at Bundoora (12km) and the Burnley Half Marathon, while Men's Division Four finished third at Warrigul (8 km) and Burnley (HM). In a telling statistic, the club was unable to field a third team on two occasions and narrowly avoided relegation. Their best result was at Bundoora, while we only managed to fill a Division 6 team in the first round of the season

So not a bad winter season for the club and it gives us something to build on for next season. What the season has shown is that we need to continue to recruit strong runners - particularly in our women's team - if we are to mix it in the higher divisions

SPEEDY GONZALEZ AWARDS

Division 3 Men - Jeremy Grey (12:40)
Division 4 Men - David Woods (13:59)
Division 5 Men - Ken Souyave (14:49)
Division 1 Women - Stacey Van Dueren (14:43)

BIG IMPROVER AWARD (from 2007 event to this year)

Mark Kelly ( -0:52)
David Woods (- 0:26)
Daniel Norris (- 0:25)
Philip Van Dueren (- 0:24)
John Braszell (- 0:23)
Sharee Sharam (- 0:07)
Jo Francken (- 0:02)

ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD

We know he doesn't enjoy these and yet he has entered them the last two years. Well done to David Woods who put in a blinder at the Tan Relays and well deserves this award. Based on this performance, perhaps the club should consider David their short course specialist. And the next winter season captain could do worse than place this fellow in the top team

And also to Daniella Modesti who wasn't feeling the best going into this race and has also been struggling with a shin complaint. Well done Daniella for getting over the line

BLOOPER OF THE DAY