VALLEY ATHLETES GO COUNTRY AT GEELONG

Nineteen DVAC athletes (14 Women & 5 Men) journeyed to Geelong to take part in the 2023 Victorian Country Championships. There was a very positive atmosphere at the John Landy Field and the Valley athletes all gained valuable experience at Championship level ahead of the coming season of championships. The Valley athletes collected a total of 19 medals for the weekend – 7 Gold, 5 Silver and 1 Bronze. The medals awarded were Invitational as it was a Country Championship.

Fieke Van Der Kamp on her way to a win in the Open Women's 5000m.

NOTES:

• Katie Oliver is doing something special with the 400m event: it has been a few years since there was a Valley female running sub 60second 400m’s. Now Katie has put in two sub 60 400m runs. Katie posted a 59.74 at Geelong to be second placed in the Under 18 Women.
• Fieke Van Der Kamp won the Open Women 5000m with a personal best time of 17:29.49. For most of the race Fieke ran solo but never lost the drive to keep the pace going.
• Matilda L’Estrange won the Women Under 18 3000m in 10:33.27. Matilda was challenged over the final laps and responded well each time.
• Amelia Di Benedetto (WU16) moved up to the 500g with the Javelin and still recorded a pb of 26.93m.
• DVAC Masters athletes contributed 5 of the 13 medals won by club members. Gaelyne Kenshole won the 80m Hurdles & Pole Vault; Greg Luck won the High Jump and placed second in the Triple Jump; and Peter Van Der Kamp finished second in the M50+ 3000m after a great battle with the eventual winner over seven and a half laps.
• Elyssia Kenshole confirmed that her return to Pole Vault is well on track with another 4.00m clearance. That was enough to win the Open Women’s event.
• Rhodri Whelan peeled off another 13 seconds from his previous pb for the 3000m distance when he finished in 10:32.24.
• Maddy Meagher had a busy schedule over the program at Geelong: Maddy ran in the 100m, 200m and 400m as well as landing a distance of 4.98m in the Long Jump.

DVAC CLUB HELPERS

Once again, DVAC was able to fill all of its allocated Club Helper duties! On this occasion the challenge was huge with the competition being at Geelong. Thanks to the following people for their support of the Valley:

Track/Hurdles – Chris Whelan, Andrew L’Estrange, Max Balchin, Kate Ryan

Javelin – Max Balchin, Amanda Smith

Triple Jump – Kate Ryan (2 stints)

High Jump – Lyn Davis, Greg Luck (2 stints)

Pole Vault – Tony Kenshole

Lap Scoring – Lyn Davis, Tony Kenshole

2023 Victorian Country Track & Field Championships

John Landy Field, Geelong

Thursday 26, Friday 27 & Saturday 28 January 2023

DVAC Results:

Women:

WOpen

100m: Keely Boyne 12.56 (0.1) (Timed Final 4^th);
400m: Sugi Neecowen 63.91 (Timed Final 9^th); ;
5000m: Fieke Van Der Kamp 17:29.49 (1^st);
100m Hurdles: Keely Boyne 17.74 (-0.9) (Timed Final 5^th);
Pole Vault: Elyssia Kenshole 4.00m (1^st);
W20
800m: Sugi Neecowen 2:29.21; (2^nd)
10000m: Fieke Van Der Kamp DNS;
W18
100m: Katie Oliver 12.46 (0.5); (Timed Final 2^nd)
400m: Katie Oliver 59.74; (Timed Final 4^th)
3000m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 11:10.53 (5^th); Matilda L'Estrange 10:33.27 (1^st);
W16
100m: Maddy Meagher 12.57 (0.7) (Timed Final 2^nd);
200m: Maddy Meagher 26.49 (-1.5) (Timed Final 1^st);
400m: Maddy Meagher 62.69; (Timed Final 5^th);
3000m: Georgia L'Estrange 12:41.00 (5^th);
Discus: Zoey Ryan 21.29m (8^th); Amelia Di Benedetto 23.62m (7^th);
Hammer: Hanna Rowe ; Zoey Ryan 22.42m (8^th);
Javelin: Zoey Ryan 23.09m (7^th); Ines Caton-Smith 30.40m (2^nd); Amelia Di Benedetto 26.93m (5^th);
Long Jump: Maddy Meagher 4.98m (-0.2) (4^th);
Shot Put: Zoey Ryan 8.96m (6^th);

WV50+
80m Hurdles: Gaelyne Kenshole 16.60 (-1.3) (1^st);
Pole Vault: Gaelyne Kenshole 2.66m (1^st);

Men:

M18
3000m: Rhodri Whelan 10:32.24 (10^th); Joel Imbriano 10:19.48 (9^th);
M16
1500m: Felix Morgan DNS;
MOpen
Hammer: Colin Newman DNS;
Shot Put: Colin Newman 11.79m (3^rd);
MV50+
3000m: Peter Van Der Kamp 9:45.36 (2^nd);
10000m: Peter Van Der Kamp DNS;
MV60+
100m: Greg Luck 14.40 (1.8) (4^th);
400m: Greg Luck DNS;
High Jump: Greg Luck 1.25m (1^st);
Triple Jump: Greg Luck 8.26m (1.9) (2^nd);