2008 Victorian All Schools Track & Field Championships
Olympic Park
7 - 9 November 2008

Three Coburg Harriers were selected to compete for their school at the 2008 Victorian All Schools Track & Field Championships. Sprinters Michael Dziadkiewicz, Tim Conway and Celeste White were all involved on the first night with heat runs for their respective events

First up was Michael Dzaidkiewicz from EKC in the Under 18 section of the 100 metres. With three hotly contested heats, only the eight fastest would progress to the final.  Dzaidkiewicz was drawn in the first heat. A tailwind of + 1.9 was recorded as Michael dead-heated on the line to come equal third in 11.51 seconds for twelfth place overall. Dzaidkiewicz was only 0.30 from the club record for his age group, which must now be in serious danger, given this was Michael’s personal best over the distance

Next up was Tim Conway,  representing Strathmore Secondary College in the U15 men’s section of the 200 metres. With a large number of entrants, athletes were faced with the having to be in the top two of each of the three heats to earn automatic qualification through to the final, with only the two next best times to go through. In Heat 2, Conway ran a strong race to finish in fifth place and cross the line in 25.77 seconds, for twelfth place overall

Representing Assumption College in the U17 women’s section was Celeste White, who was entered in the 200 metres and in her pet event the 400 metres

Held on the Friday night, the 200 metres was split into two heats with the top three in each heat and the next two fastest to contest the final. White ran in the second heat and with the aid of a strong tailwind (+21) crossed the line in 27.22 seconds for fourth place. A few nervous moments ensued however White got through to the final as the seventh fastest qualifier

The final was held on Sunday afternoon, and into a headwind (-0.9), White was involved in a close finish with two other runners, crossing the line in seventh place with 27.36 seconds, only 0.38 seconds from fifth spot

To Celeste’s other event and the 400 metres was run as a straight final. In a quality field, White performed outstandingly to cross the line in 60.03 seconds – agonisingly close to breaking through the minute barrier. White finished in fourth place and broke her own Coburg Harriers club record for the 400 metres. This will also be the U17, U18, U19 and U20 age group record. Well done Celeste!

Congratulations to all three athletes on their selection for their school teams