Lara; Dean; Lauren

Four members of the Diamond Valley Athletic Club represented Victoria at the 2011 National Cross Country Championships held at Canberra. The four athletes were all able to perform at their best under Championship pressure on a wind-swept and testing course set on the slopes of Mt Stromlo, Canberra.

In the Open Women's 8km race, Lauren Crowe finished in 17th place in a time of 30:18 and was the fourth placed member of the Victorian team. In the final stages of the race, Crowe was able to lift her speed to hold off a number of challengers from behind. Crowe placed 25th at the Nationals a year ago and after the race she was pleased with her improved position in the field.

Lara Kolar won her first medal at a National Cross Country Championship when she finished third in the Girls 12 Years 3km event. Kolar went out quickly and went through the one kilometre mark in fourth place. In the race to the line, Kolar put pressure on the second place-getter but had to settle for bronze in the line honours, although she was able to claim gold as a member of the winning Victorian team.

Dean Neofitou was placed 10th in the Boys Under 16 4km event. The pace was hectic from the start and Neofitou completed the opening 1.5km loop in 4:20. At the end of the following 2.5km leg, Neofitou produced his trademark barnstorming finish to pass several fellow Victorian team members on the line. Neofitou was the second placed member of the Victorian team that finished second to Queensland.

Joe Hardy came to the Nationals a week after racing in the City to Surf where he finished in 51:10 to be placed as 151st out of the 69000 finishers. In the Men 16 – 19 years age category, Hardy was placed 9th.

In Canberra, Hardy, 16, finished the Men U18 6km in 29th place in a time of 19:35. He was a member of the winning Victorian School Sport team. Hardy has now qualified to go to the World School Teams Cross Country Championships to be held in Malta in April 2012.

Lauren; Joe