Official results are in from the Athletics Victoria Shield North West Region Final held last Sunday afternoon at a windy Williamstown track. Held in absurdly cool conditions after the extreme record heat of the day before, the club had five teams competing for the right to represent our region at the Shield Final. Scores fluctuated wildly throughout the day, however after the last event had been run the Coburg Harriers Division Two Men and Men's 40 + both secured their spot in the season ending Final. In the case of our overage 40 + men's team, they won the inaugural North West Region pennant while our Division Two men finished runner up

 

The club had three teams in the junior section, the first time this has happened in my short time at the club. Our U18 men were affected by injury to one of their best athletes and they finished in third place. Our U16 men's and women's teams had a tough day out. Nevertheless fourth place for both those teams was not a true reelection of just how very well they performed. A little luck going their way and both teams could have finished several places higher - in the case our U16 women, they were missing two key athletes to injury - significantly only twelve points separated them from second place and a spot in the Shield Final

 

Athletes to do well included Liam Magee (Div 2) who swept the 1500 m and 5000 m, the latter in a season best time. Warren Burke (40+) did not record any season bests but did win the 400 m and was third in the Hammer, Philip van Dueren (40+) won the Hammer and was second in the 5000 m, while Ken Carter (40+) won the Shot Put and Discus, the latter breaking the M55 - 59 club age group record. Tim Erickson (40+) was runner up in the 2000 m Walk with a season best time, Matthew Smith (U18) was second in the 3000 m and third in the 1500 m, Jay Blake (Div 2) was runner up in the 200 m and in the 400 m with a personal best

Josh Traine was second in the 400 m as was Jessica Farrugia in a personal best time, Glenn Carroll celebrated his second place in the shot put with a season best throw before coming third in the 1500 m and 5000 m and Daryl Thomson was second in the Discus. Rory Smyth (U16) was third in the Discus, Kira Davey (U16) was third in both the 90 m Hurdles and Triple Jump, Amber Dominutti (U16) was third in the 1500 m in a personal best time, Alana Guerin (U16) smashed her personal best in the 3000 m before finishing third, Matina Konstantinakos (U16) was third in the 200 m while Philip van Dueren (40+) finished off the day with third in the 1500 m and 400 m, the latter in a season best time

 

Elsewhere personal bests were recorded by Alana Guerin (U16), who laid claim to being one of our strongest performers at the meet. The same could be said of Sam Dragon who recorded personal bests in the 1500 m and 3000 m, Daryl Thomson recorded a season best in the 400 m, Ben Weber recorded season bests in the Discus and Shot Put, while Rory Smyth recorded a season best in the Triple Jump. What all these great performances meant was that while we may not have filled as many events as our competitors, the quality of our performances got us over the line and that's what we need to do at finals time, so well done everyone

 

As you can see, so many athletes stepped up to the mark when it mattered most with 40% of our performances on the day resulting in a podium finish. I would like to pay special tribute to a couple of our Coburg Little Athletics members who took on a big workload, in particular Kira Davey (seven events) and Amber Dominutti (five events) who both backed up from a full morning of little athletics. Both girls fought bravely in the 400 m, the last event of the day and you both should be congratulated on your fine efforts. And thank you to Tim Erickson, Kathleen and Rob Marsh for running the Discus at short notice. Your efforts saved the club from being disqualified for not providing enough officials

 

So we move to the Athletics Victoria Shield Final. Athletes in our Men's Division 2 and Men's 40+ divisions will be receiving an email from myself over the coming days confirming your events. For those not involved, your assistance would be appreciated as team managers or as track officials. So, if you are able to help out either in the morning or afternoon session, can you let me know Chris Harrap, our Officials Coordinator, or myself know as soon as you can.  If a number of people can help out, this would allow us to share the duties around

On the subject of officials, those who have been diligent enough (or bored enough) to read the Summer Handbook from cover from cover may have noticed we also need to supply helpers for the AV Open/U20 Championships over the following weekend, at which we expect a number of our athletes to be competing, both as individuals and in relay teams.  We have been asked to provide one official on Friday 20th January (this is an evening session), two for the first session on Saturday 21st and two for the first session on Sunday 22nd. Again, if you are able to help out at one or more of these sessions, please let myself or Chris Harrap know as soon as you can

Finally, don't forget to keep the night of Saturday, 28 February 2009 free in your diary for the Summer Presentation Night from 6:30. The event will be held at the Grand View Hotel, 47 Pearson St, Brunswick West. Cost is $25 per adult, $15 per head for juniors. We have secured a guest speaker and you will see the presentation of the Cullen Cup trophy winner for best athlete, Daryl Thomson Shield for best Coburg Little Athletics centre athlete in the Coburg Harriers, best division winners and lots more. With over seventy athletes having competed for the club so far this season, it promises to be a big night. Seats are limited so book by return email today!