Still waiting on team results from the Athletics Victoria Shield North West Region Round 5 meet held at Coburg over a week ago. Individual results and placings have been made available to team managers and from those it's likely our U14 women placed third with our U16 men. The club's U20 men team came second while a third consecutive victory was recorded by our 40 + men's team. At the conclusion of the round, our U14 women have maintained third spot on their ladder, the U20 men have moved into second spot, while our overage men's team consolidated top spot on their ladder. Fourth place for our U16 women saw them move into finals contention

Several athletes made their debut for the Coburg Harriers. We welcomed Coburg Little Athletes Patrick Martin who competed in the Walk and Joshua Vicendese who excelled in both the 200 m and Long Jump. Our senior women's team welcomed Pam Sievers and they will be a much more competitive unit with the addition of this talented all round athlete. To underline her class, Sievers finished second in both the Shot Put and High Jump for Division One women. And competing as an invite athlete Ivan Galletti (M40), father of Coburg Little Athlete Alessandra, ran a very fast time in the 200 m that would have seen him win the event in this division

Six athletes competed for the first time this summer. Mohammed Reese (M40) was second in the 200 m, Matthew Smith added much needed endurance depth to our U20 men with third place in the 800 m and Michael Murrell (M40) showed he is no slouch in shorter events with fifth in the 800 m followed by second place in the Long Jump before tackling the 5000 m. Tim Conway from Coburg Little Athletics returned to AV competition from last season in the 800 m - a brave choice - and the Blakes enjoyed the end of the Spring Carnival with Jay Blake (M1) recording a personal best in the 200 m and Gary Blake (M40) showed the benefit of a full winter racing with good times in the 800 m and 5000 m

Athletes to do well were Leah Polycarpou (F14) who won both the 800 m and 3000 m, Liam Magee (M1) was first in the 5000 m for his division and Simo Rasic (M20) who won the 200 m, improving his own club age group record in the process. In the High Jump Philip van Dueren (M40) and Kira Davey (F16) both won their division with Davey later coming second in the Shot Put, Bethanie Barbour (F14) won the 1500 m Walk while Tim Erickson (M40) yet again took out the 3000 m Walk. Shane Wilson (M16) was runner up in the 800 m and 3000 m and Philip Curtain (M40) was second in the Shot Put and Hammer. In the 200 m Hurdles Maddy Black (M14) and Rory Smyth (M16) both finished third, Philip van Dueren (M40) was third in the 5000 m, Michael Dziadkiewicz (M20) third in the 200 m, Ken Carter (M40) was third in the Hammer and Shot while Stephen Wright was third in the Long Jump

This weekend we travel west to the Newport Athletics Facility in Williamstown for Round 7. On the program, the sprinters can enjoy the 200 m and 4 x 400 m Relay. The middle distance athletes have the 800 m and 3000 m, the jump events are the Long Hurdles - 400 m for seniors, 200 m for juniors, Long Jump and High Jump. The walk is the 3000 m Walk with 1500 m Walk for U14's. Events not on the program this week include the Javelin and Discus. Junior athletes, the 200 m hurdles are on at 1:20 pm with the 1500 m Walk to follow at 1:30 pm. In the High Jump, the bar will be set at 1.00 m - 1.20 m from 1:00 pm and 1.15 m - 1.40 m from 1:40 pm

Sunday, 29 November 2009 - Coburg Lake Classic 5 km/10 km Fun Run at clubrooms from 9:00 am. Volunteers required to marshal course. Note, senior athletes receive discount on entry if wishing to run