Another great day out for your Coburg Harriers in warm and at times blustery conditions last Saturday for Round 2 action of the North West Region Athletics Victoria Shield competition. The club's Division 2 men and 40+ continue to impress, winning their respective divisions to remain undefeated and in a neat reversal of last week, the club's U16 men won their meet and our U16 women finished a creditable third place

 

We saw the debut of several athletes including two exciting prospects from Coburg Little Athletics. Daniel Patten dominated his throwing events, winning the U16 men's Shot Put and Discus. Klarindah Hudson added a new dimension to our U16 girls by scoring good points in the Triple Jump. And Alexandra Hanson was outstanding on debut by recording fourth place in the U18 girls for 200 m. In scoring her first points for the club, Esther Traine did particularly well in the Triple Jump and Discus

Craig Brown won the 200 m (Div 2), Liam Magee won the 1500 m (Div 2), while Lawrence Willis swept the Discus and Shot Put (Div 2). Men's Division 2 and 40+ won the 4 x 100 m Relay. Steven Marsh showed he is more than just a sprinter with second in the U18 Shot Put, while Celeste White was second in the U18 women's 200 m. In the 40+ men, Daryl Thomson was second in the Discus while Tim Erickson was second in the 2000 m Walk. Warren Burke (40+) was third in the 200 m and 400 m

 

Six club records were broken. Joe Brown broke his own 200 m mark for M60-64, Warren Burke set a new M40-44 record with the 6 kg Hammer and the 40+ mens 4 x 100 m relay (Gary Blake, Joe Brown, Benny Tancredi and Warren Burke) eclipsed the 4 x 100 m record for M40-44, with two 60 year olds in the team. Leah Polycarpou broke the girls U13 record for 1500 m while Rory Smyth broke through in the 90 m Hurdles for U14 boys, beating a near twenty year old record. And the club's U16 women's relay team (Kira Davey, Cassie Musumceci, Klarindah Hudson and Matine Konstantinakos) beat the U15 girls record for 4 x 100 m

So at the conclusion of two rounds, our Division 2 Men (four points) and Men's 40+ (five points) already have a healthy break on second place. The club's U16 teams not only reveresed their results, but reversed ladder positions with our U16 men moving from second to first and U16 girls dropping from first to second, although still a healthy break to third (three points). And our Division 3 men and U18 men currently lie third and are well placed

 

To this Saturday and it's the first of our home meets at Coburg from 1:00 pm. For the middle distance athletes its the 800/3000 m double, for the sprinters the 100 m and 4 x 200 m Relay and for field athletes - the Shot Put is strictly invitation and not for points. Please note that to qualify for the 4 x 100 m Relay in the finals, you must complete four individual 100 m events, so please ensure you complete one this week. And we had very few individual 400 m runner last week and this event is being run in the finals. Please make sure you complete one this week

 

Given this is a home meet, I expect all athletes will make themsevels avaialble. The club has an excellent record at home, rarely losing any division in which we have a team. I am hopeful this continues with several junior and middle distance athletes yet to make their debut. For our U16 women, it presents a chance to regain top place on the ladder and for our Division 2 men, 40 + men and U16 men an opportunity to consolidate first place on their respective ladders

 

Afterwards, the club is holding a pizza and pasta night which has already attracted interest from athletes of other clubs. It will take place at the conclusion of the meet (once all equipment packed away) and cost will be $10 per head (10 years of age upwards). Drinks are by donation from the fridge (soft drink available)

 

And a point of clarification for our junior athletes. Please note while some of you may be U14 in age, you must still compete in U16 events. For the throwers, this means appearing when the U16 throws events are on and throwing the U16 weights. For the Hurdlers, this means the U16 hurdle heights/distances. In order to score points for your U16 team, please note boys must compete in the 100 m Hurdles and girls must compete in the 90 Hurdles in the U16 section

 

And for those thinking of having the Cup Day holiday off, you would be interested to know the club will be staging a cup themed training session this Tuesady morning at the track from 9:00 am. At the complettion of training, for the adults a champagne & chicken breakast will follow (orange juice also on hand), and you are welcome to join us. Would be fantastic to have a Melbourne Cup style atmosphere while your Coburg Harriers are training on what would be a cup themed training program

 

 

Saturday, 1 November 2008   AV Shield Round 3 at Coburg. Help required from 12:00 pm and from 5:00 pm. Pizza/Pasta Night to follow at $10 per head

Tuesday, 5 November 2008   Cup Day training session with Champagne & Chicken breakfast to follow. Partners/families welcome

Saturday, 15 November 2008   AV Shield Round 4 at Williamstown (informal dinner afterwards - not an official function)