Twelve members of the Diamond Valley Athletic Club have produced a series of high quality performances under the pressure of a major championship. The Pacific Schools Games that included the Australian Schools Track & Field Championships, was held in Canberra over the last week, and attracted the best young athletes from around Australia and other Pacific nations. For many of the future stars of Australian athletics, the week-long carnival was an exhausting experience with the need to run heats, semis and finals as well as relays.
Matthew Haynes, 14 years, was one of the Valley contingent to pack a lot into the week. In all, Haynes ran in eight races; as well, he competed in the Long Jump and Triple Jump. Despite this exhausting schedule, Haynes produced a series of personal best performances and set four new club records. Haynes ran 11.17 in the final of the 100m, 22.49 in the final of the 200m and jumped distances of 6.40m for the Long Jump and 13.07m for the Triple Jump. His final engagement was to fill in for the Boys U15 4x200m relay and despite feeling ‘dead on his feet' he still managed to play an important role in bringing the team home in second place.
Monica Brennan went well under the 25 seconds mark in the final of the Girls 14, 200m. Her time of 24.79 established a new DVAC record for the Women Under 15 and saw her finish in second place. As a member of the winning Victorian 4x100m relay team, Brennan added a gold medal to her silver.
Leah Phillips won a gold medal in the Girls 15 years 4x100m.
Catherine Brennan, saved her best run for the final of the Girls 16 100m when she was clocked at 11.91. In an extremely high quality field, this time put her in third place. Brennan picked up silver medals in both the 4x100m Relay and the 4x200m Relay.
James Vine finished in third place in the final of the 100m Hurdles. His time of 13.94 set a new DVAC record. Vine's other medal came in the Boy's 17 4x100m relay. In the 100m and 200m, Vine and team-mate at the Valley, Taylor Mills ran excellent times but narrowly missed the cut to the finals. Vine ran 11.25 for the 100m and Mills recorded a time of 22.72 for the 200m.
Talented Thrower, Kurt D'Lasselle picked up medals in the three events he competed in, the Discus (2nd ), Hammer Throw (2nd ) and Shot Put (3rd ). D'Lasselle added over two meters to his previous best distance for the Hammer Throw that he set only a week earlier. D'Lasselle's throw of 56.68m with the 5kg Hammer sets a new club record.
Beau Romans Van Schaik finished in second place in the final of the Boys 18/19 110m Hurdles in a time of 15.18, a new club record.
Matthew Smith, Crista Ashby, Sam Geers and Dean Neofitou all came away from the Championships with new personal best times.
Article and results compiled by Max Balchin.
Results: WomenGirls 14 years Monica Brennan Prelims 100m 1st 12.54 (Q) Semis 100m 3rd 12.34 (Q) Final 100m 4th 12.36 Prelims 200m 4th 25.36 (Q) Final 200m 2nd 24.79 Final 4x100m Relay (Vic A team) 1st 47.93 Girls 15 years Leah Phillips Final 4x100m (Vic A team) 1st 47.54 Prelims 100m 18th 13.00 Girls 16 years Catherine Brennan Prelims 200m 6th 25.29 (Q) Semis 200m 9th 25.30 Prelims 100m 4th 12.29 (Q) Final 100m 3rd 11.91 Final 4x100m Relay (Vic A team) 2nd 47.01 Final 4x200m Relay (Vic A team) 2nd 1:41.90 Girls 17 years Crista Ashby Prelims 400m 10th 58.11 Final 4x400m Relay (Vic A team) 4th 4:17.63
Results: Men
Boys 12 years Dean Neofitou Prelims 800m 8th 2:21.41 (Q) Final 800m 7th 2:20.63 Boys 13 years Sam Geers Prelims 200m 9th 24.36 (Q) Semis 200m 6th 24.41 (Q) Final 200m 7th 24.52 Prelims 100m 17th 12.17 Final 4x100m Relay (Vic A team) 3rd 46.64 Boys 14 years Matthew Haynes Prelims 200m 3rd 22.93 (Q) Semis 200m 3rd 23.13 (Q) Final 200m 3rd 22.49 Prelims 100m 2nd 11.53 (Q) Semis 100m 2nd 11.37 (Q) Final 100m 2nd 11.17 Final Long Jump 3rd 6.40m Final Triple Jump 3rd 13.07m Final 4x100m Relay (Vic A team) 3rd 44.90 Final 4x200m Relay (U15) (Vic A team) 2nd 1:31.83 Boys 16 years James Vine: Prelims 200m 14th 22.83 Prelims 4x100m Relay (Vic A team) 3rd 44.83 (Q) Final 4x100m Relay (Vic A team) 3rd 43.18 Prelim 110m Hurdles 4th 14.05 (Q) Final 110m Hurdles 3rd 13.94 Prelims 100m 10th 11.25 (Q) Semis 100m 15th 11.35 Final 4x200m 4th 1:30.24 Taylor Mills Prelims 200m 13th 22.72 Prelims 100m 14th 11.32 (q) Semis 100m 16th 11.35 Final 4x200m 4th 1:30.24 Boys 17 years Matthew Smith Prelims 400m Hurdles 9th 57.00 Prelims 110m Hurdles 11th 15.45 Kurt D'Lasselle Final Discus Throw 2nd 51.32m Final Shot Put 3rd 16.38m Final Hammer Throw 2nd 56.68 Boys 18/19 years Beau Romans Van Schaik Final 110m Hurdles 2nd 15.18 Prelim 100m 8th 11.54 (q) Final 100m 7th 11.24