2008/09 Athletics Victoria Shield Final
Meadowglen International Athletics Track, Epping
Saturday, 14 February 2009

Typically windy but warm conditions greeted athletes at the Meadowglen International Athletics Track in Epping for the Athletics Victoria Shield Final. The Coburg Harriers would be represented by our Division 2 men and 40 + men’s grades. However, various circumstances would see the club depleted in terms of athletes and officials. Nevertheless, the athletes who represented your Coburg Harriers on the day each performed to a very high standard with several personal and season bests recorded

We start with the 1500 m, where Liam Magee led from the front early and was never headed to win the event in Division 2. Jeremy Grey, running third through much of the race, did not have the finishing kick required and faded to finish sixth. Grey did however record a personal best time and sixth place. Also recording a personal best was Glenn Carroll who finished in eighth

In the 40 + section, Philip van Dueren led the way with a sub-five minute time and tenth place. Just behind van Dueren was Ken Souyave with a season best time and bringing the team home was Warren Burke in the first of four track events for the day. For van Dueren and Souyave, their times were almost ten seconds quicker than anything they had recorded throughout the season!

The 200 m was the next track event on the card. The club could only field athletes in the 40 + men’s division, with Warren Burke leading the Coburg Harrier charge in tenth place with Daryl Thomson and Ken Carter rounding out the team

The 5000 m was very tough on all athletes with a howling headwind down the home straight resembling a wind tunnel at times. In Division 2, Liam Magee was outstanding in finishing third, with Jeremy Grey again crossing in sixth place and Glenn Carroll next in eleventh. All three athletes recorded times significantly slower than their season best, highlighting how tough the conditions were

In the 40 + grade, Philip van Dueren again led the team home in a wonderfully consistent performance, with Ken Souyave next and Warren Burke, who made light of the conditions recording his second fastest time of the season!

Tim Erickson competed in the 2000 m Walk in the 40 + men’s division. Erickson would also find the conditions a challenge, but was the club’s best performed athlete in his division with fourth place

The 400 m was contested in Division 2 by Jeremy Grey. After the two longer track events, Grey was looking to finish the Athletics Victoria Shield season on a high note, and mission accomplished – a sub 60 second time was good reward in the last event on the track program

In the 40 + men’s division, the club unveiled their secret weapon in Brian Delaney who was unavailable to run the event at the North West Region Final. Although carrying an injury, Delaney put his body on the line, striding out hard to finish the fastest Coburg Harrier in his division and inflict a rare defeat for Warren Burke. To be fair, Burke was physically spent after a long summer campaign, but the results do not make allowances for that! Also to run well was Philip van Dueren

To the field events and we start with the Shot Put. The only field event to feature Men’s Division 2, Glenn Carroll set a new personal best to finish in fifth place, with Ben Weber close behind to finish seventh. Our 40 + men also did well here with Ken Carter recording a season best throw to secure seventh place, while Daryl Thomson was ninth

In the Discus, our 40+ men Ken Carter and Daryl Thomson finished ninth and tenth respectively, while at the Hammer Ken Carter and Philip van Dueren finishing seventh and ninth respectively

So at the end of competition, our Division 2 men finished in sixth place, with half the points of the second last team. Our men’s 40+ team are provisionally recorded as sixth, but should move up a place once the points attributed to a disqualified opposition athlete are properly re-distributed

Special thanks to our club officials on the day in Chris Harrap, Tim Erickson and Diane Brimacombe. Your willingness to support the club week in, week out has been much appreciated, particularly in the case of Tim Erickson who will often have competed in a grueling walk event before popping over to official at an event. Well done to you all

Thank you also to our accredited Athletics Victoria officials in Brian Delaney and Gordon Proudfoot, the latter of whom was there from the first event at 9:00 am for the juniors through to the last event on the program at 6:30 pm