VALLEY ATHLETES PUT ON A SHOW IN AVSL RD 2
WHOOOOSH … DID YOU SEE THAT!!
The results from AVSL Rd 2 reveal the depth of talent that the Diamond Valley Athletic Club athletes possess as well as the exciting progress they continue to make. In many of the events there were DVAC athletes mixing it with the best in the State.
In the top Heat of the Female 100m, DVAC athletes filled the first three places with Jamie Ritchie crossing in first place in a pb time of 11.83. For the second week, Jamie scored over 500 MVA points for her run and led the DVAC scores for an individual event.
Close behind Jamie were Katie Oliver, who also recorded a pb time with 12.05, and Elizabeth Horne, 12.47. Ellysia Kenshole, 12.64, completed the quartet of sprinters in Heat #1.
A similar depth of sprint talent was on show when the DVAC male sprinters went down into the blocks. Jaxon Latchman led the times with his 11.72 recorded in Heat #1 of the Male 100m event. There were a succession of pb’s posted by DVAC athletes in the 100m Heats: these included Zander Botha (M18, 11.72); Harvey McGregor (M18, 11.79); Liam Carroll (M16, 12:08); & Jakirit Singh Guru (M16, 12.59).
ELIZABETH HORNE: VALLEY’S MVA
With a Most Valuable Athlete points total of 1280, Elizabeth Horne (F20) proved yet again her qualities as an all round athlete. This total topped the DVAC list and placed her 12th on the Victorian list. Elizabeth posted the fastest time for the 100m Hurdles (15.39), landed a 5.31m Long Jump and ran the 100m in pb time of 12.47 to earn the total of 1280 MVA points. As if that was not enough for one Round, Elizabeth cleared 1.61m in the High Jump and threw the Javelin 27.51m on the same program.
Three other DVAC juniors broke through the 1000 MVA points barrier in Round 2 of the AVSL. Zander Botha (M18 – 1,185pts); Aylaa Arunan (F16 – 1098 pts) and Liv Nicholls (F18 – 1045pts) each made valuable contributions to the DVAC total of 47,610pts for the Round. This total was the second highest in the Premier Division for the Round.
THE DISTANCE BRIGADE ANSWERS BACK
OK – the Valley does have an extraordinary sprint team as explained, but what about the distance mob? Well, in Round 2 they did everything in their power to match the brilliance of their speedy brothers & sisters. For a start, there were six Valley athletes out of the fifteen starters in the top Female 1500m Heat.
Jesse Mayne (F Open) led the team home in 4:46.64 and was followed in by Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (F20) 4:51.76, Madeleine Arvaji (F18) 4:57.50, Erin Maloney (FOpen) 5:01.43, Isabella Napoletano (F18) 5:11.01, & Sanna Kersten (F16) 5:30.38.
Hanna Fitzgerald (F16) was a clear winner in the second heat with a time of 4:49.96.
Brodie Batt (M18) led the Valley field home in the 1500m with a time of 4:13.66. Jordan Rudd (MOpen) ran his second fastest time for a 1500m with 4:29.05.
Fieke Van Der Kamp (FOpen) ran the fastest 5000m in the AVSL for Round 2 when she completed the distance in 18:16.09.
TOBY GOES OH SO CLOSE TO 2:01m
Toby Hamilton (M18) cleared 1.91m in the High Jump to win top points for the Newport venue before he asked for the bar to be raised to 2:01m. Toby has a pb of 1.95m and is keen to get a clearance over the 2 meter mark. On his third attempt in Round 2, Toby was clearly over the bar but knocked the bar with his leg. Don’t miss a chance to watch Toby when he next attempts a 2m High Jump.
Toby also threw the Javelin 42.89m and sent the Discus out for 23.47m. His MVA points for the three events added up to a 998 total.
HOLDING THE FORT: JAMES HURLEY & JORDAN RUDD
On paper, DVAC has a team of 15 in the M Open age group. In Round 2 duties were left to James Hurley and Jordan Rudd. The two athletes competed in six events and gathered a total of 2002 MVA points; that was enough to place the DVAC M Open team in 16th place out of 40 teams. That’s a mighty effort by two talented athletes.
James ran the 100m in 12.11; cleared 1.51m in the High Jump and landed a Long Jump at 5.61m.
Jordan was clocked at 13.06 in the 100m; 58.23 in the 400m and 4:29.05 in the 1500m. Jordan’s best time for the 1500m is 4:26.08, recorded at the Nationals last season.
AGE GROUP TABLES FOR RD 2
DVAC finished on top of the M18 and F40+ tables for Round 2. The Female 40+ team achieved this feat with four athletes while the M18 made use of eleven athletes to compile the largest Team score for Round 2. This score was 6634 MVA points.
In all, there were 67 DVAC athletes (Female 31 & Male 36) who compiled a total of 47,610 points for DVAC in Round 2.
DVAC on the AVSL Age Group tables for Rd 2:
Female:
Open – 3rd/37 (3,447pts);
U20 – 2nd/27 (2789pts);
U18 – 2nd/32 (4507pts);
U16 – 12th/36 (3364pts);
U14 – 19th/36 (1624pts);
F40 – 1st/25 (2652pts);
F50 – 10th/25 (1440pts);
F60 – 8th/19 (1838pts);
Male:
Open – 16th/40 (2002pts);
U20 - 12th/25 (967pts);
U18 – 1st/35 (6634pts);
U16 – 6th/37 (5127pts);
U14 – 4th/33 (3229pts);
M40 – 5th/32 (2297pts);
M50 – 13th/27 (1,282pts);
M60 – 4th/33 (1325pts);
WELCOME TO THE VALLEY
In AVSL Rd 2 of the ‘26/’27 season, DVAC was fortunate enough to welcome three new athletes to the Track & Field season:
Riley Young (M16): 100m Hurdles – 15.55
Hannah Fitzgerald (F16): 1500m – 4:49.96 & 400m – 61.95
Cooper Andrew (M16): 100m – 12.73 & 400m – 60.60
As well, it was great to welcome back to the Valley for the new season:
Jerome Nu’U (M16): Shot Put – 13.86m & Discus – 44.76m.
In all, there were 67 DVAC athletes (Female 31 & Male 36) who compiled a total of 47,610 points for DVAC in Round 2.
(Max Balchin – mbalchin29@bigpond.com)
AVSL RD 2 2026
Saturday 24 October 2026
Williamstown, Frankston, Collingwood
DAC Results:
Female OP
100m: Katie Oliver 12.05 (+0.0); Elyssia Kenshole 12.64 (+0.0); Sarah Papadopoulos 17.56 (0.5);
400m: Erin Maloney 70.45;
1500m: Jesse Mayne 4:46.64; Erin Maloney 5:01.43;
5000m: Fieke Van Der Kamp 18:16.09;
Discus: Sarah Papadopoulos 13.25m;
Long Jump: Elyssia Kenshole 5.10m; Sarah Papadopoulos 3.13m;
Female 20
100m: Elizabeth Horne 12.47 (+0.0);
1500m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 4:51.76;
100m Hurdles: Elizabeth Horne 15.39 (+0.0);
Discus: Vanessa Smith 31.34m; 31.58m;
Hammer: Vanessa Smith 35.28m; 36.89m;
High Jump: Elizabeth Horne 1.61m;
Javelin: Vanessa Smith 35.85m; 36.12m; Elizabeth Horne 27.51m;
Long Jump: Elizabeth Horne 5.31m;
Female 18
100m: Liv Nicholls 14.01 (+0.0);
400m: Madeleine Arvaji 65.23; Isabella Napoletano 68.22;
800m: Matilda Johnson 2:20.04;
1500m: Madeleine Arvaji 4:57.50; Isabella Napoletano 5:11.01;
3000m Steeple: Zoey Ryan 13:13.5h;
Discus: Zoey Ryan 19.66m; Liv Nicholls NM; Hanna Rowe 24.74m;
High Jump: Liv Nicholls 1.46m;
Javelin: Zoey Ryan 18.89m; Liv Nicholls 11.28m; Hanna Rowe 18.38m;
Long Jump: Liv Nicholls 3.82m;
Female 16
100m: Jamie Ritchie 11.83 (+0.0);
400m: Hannah Fitzgerald 61.95; Eadie Raso 65.69;
1500m: Hannah Fitzgerald 4:49.96; Sanna Kersten 5:30.38;
Discus: Talise Botha SCR;
High Jump: Aylaa Arunan 1.31m;
Javelin: Aylaa Arunan SCR; Talise Botha SCR;
Long Jump: Aylaa Arunan 4.17m; Talise Botha SCR;
Shot Put: Aylaa Arunan 7.92m;
Triple Jump: Aylaa Arunan 9.54m;
Female 14
100m: Aria-Rose Cerqueira 13.05 (0.1); Chelsea King 13.77 (+0.0); Maddie Laws 14.40 (+0.0);
High Jump: Chelsea King 1.41m;
Female 40
100m: Victoria Lindores 15.09 (0.5); Meg Nicholls 16.55 (0.1);
400m: Alison Knuckey 79.73;
1500m: Alison Knuckey 5:46.95;
Discus: Kate Ryan 14.93m; Meg Nicholls 9.05m;
Javelin: Kate Ryan 12.14m; Meg Nicholls 10.11m; Victoria Lindores 12.82m;
Long Jump: Meg Nicholls 3.26m; Victoria Lindores 3.52m;
Female 50
100m: Gaelyne Kenshole 16.53 (0.5);
Discus: Gaelyne Kenshole 19.96m; Sarah Gittins 13.24m;
Javelin: Gaelyne Kenshole 17.53m; Sarah Gittins 8.30m;
Long Jump: Gaelyne Kenshole 3.87m;
Female 60
100m: Michelle King 16.92 (0.3); Jo Moxon 21.53 (0.5);
400m: Jo Moxon 1:35.74; Michelle King 83.48;
1500m: Jo Moxon 7:07.26; Michelle King 7:17.30;
Male OP
100m: James Hurley 12.11 (0.4); Jordan Rudd 13.06 (0.2);
400m: Jordan Rudd 58.23;
1500m: Jordan Rudd 4:29.05;
High Jump: James Hurley 1.51m;
Javelin: Daniil Rauzin SCR;
Long Jump: Jesse Littlehales SCR; James Hurley 5.61m;
Male 20
100m: Jaxon Latchman 11.37 (0.1);
400m: Rhodri Whelan 62.13;
1500m: Rhodri Whelan 4:30.27;
Male 18
100m: James D'Antonio 11.55 (0.2); Zander Botha 11.72 (0.2); Harvey McGregor 11.79 (0.4); Josh Koegler 14.33 (0.1); Elliot Williams DNS;
400m: Zander Botha 50.97; Charlie Cooper 52.77; Josh Koegler DNS;
1500m: Brodie Batt 4:13.66; Asher Knuckey 4:38.83;
2000m Steeple: William Quigley 6:32.0h;
Discus: Toby Hamilton 23.47m; Wilson Riley 33.68m; SCR; DNS; Zander Botha SCR; Chehan Udugampala SCR;
Hammer: Wilson Riley 45.56m; DNS; 47.37m; Chehan Udugampala DNS;
High Jump: Toby Hamilton 1.91m; Wilson Riley 1.26m; Elliot Williams 1.61m;
Javelin: Toby Hamilton 42.89m; Wilson Riley SCR; Zander Botha 22.12m; Chehan Udugampala DNS; SCR;
Long Jump: Wilson Riley SCR; Zander Botha 5.82m; Elliot Williams 5.61m;
Shot Put: Wilson Riley 9.23m;
Male 16
100m: Liam Carroll 12.08 (0.1); Jakirat Singh Guru 12.59 (0.1); Cooper Andrew 12.73 (0.1); Angus Nicholls 14.45 (0.2);
400m: Cooper Andrew 60.60;
100m Hurdles: Riley Young 15.55 (+0.0);
Discus: Angus Nicholls 22.39m; Gabriel Kozaris FOUL; 31.15m; Jerome Nu'U 44.76m; 41.84m;
Hammer: Gabriel Kozaris 39.09m; 39.44m;
High Jump: Cooper Andrew 1.66m;
Javelin: Angus Nicholls 17.61m; Gabriel Kozaris 37.09m; 34.54m;
Long Jump: Liam Carroll 6.08m; Angus Nicholls 4.13m; Jakirat Singh Guru 5.00m;
Shot Put: Jerome Nu'U 13.63m; 13.86m;
Male 14
100m: Jacob Guyett 11.78 (0.1); Aston Parke 13.84 (-1.2); Finlay Bowman 20.05 (-0.0);
400m: Finlay Bowman 1:50.14;
1500m: Sebastian Botha 5:54.0h;
90m Hurdles: Cooper Partridge 14.31 (+0.0);
Discus: Sebastian Botha 13.20m; Finlay Bowman 18.03m; Tommi Rowe 22.37m;
Javelin: Sebastian Botha 21.13m; Finlay Bowman 12.75m;
Long Jump: Cooper Partridge 5.26m; Sebastian Botha 3.58m;
Male 40
100m: Justin Botha 13.26 (0.1); Cyrus Wong 15.54 (0.2);
400m: Justin Botha 63.91;
1500m: Cyrus Wong 6:01.52;
Discus: Arunan Arumainayagam 21.27m; Justin Botha 22.28m;
Hammer: Arunan Arumainayagam 21.42m;
High Jump: Michael Constantine SCR;
Javelin: Arunan Arumainayagam 21.27m; Justin Botha DNS; Cyrus Wong 26.50m;
Long Jump: Cyrus Wong 3.33m;
Shot Put: Arunan Arumainayagam 7.69m;
Male 50
100m: Darren Corden 17.58 (0.3);
800m: Adam Scott 2:35.29;
Discus: Lalith Udugampala SCR;
Hammer: Darren Casey 24.74m;
Javelin: Lalith Udugampala SCR;
Long Jump: Lalith Udugampala SCR; Darren Corden 3.54m;
Shot Put: Adam Scott 6.45m;
Male 60
100m: Greg Luck 26.53 (-0.0);
2000m Walk: Bernie Keirl 13:11.1h;
Discus: Bruce Wood 32.01m;
Hammer: Bruce Wood 31.82m;
High Jump: Greg Luck NM;
Javelin: Jeff Young SCR; Bruce Wood SCR;
Shot Put: Bruce Wood 10.25m;
Officials: Patrick Clarke; David Armstrong; Jane Lacock; Paul Schofield; Jeff Hughes;
AVSL ROUND 3: ENTER BY MIDDAY THIS WEDNESDAY (28/10/’26)
Saturday 31 October 2026
Zone A (including DVAC) @ Aberfeldie
Track: Long Hurdles; Racewalk – 2000m; 5000m; 200m; 800m; 3000m; 5000m
Field: Pole Vault; Triple Jump; Shot Put; Hammer Throw
AVSL ROUND 3:
Saturday 31 October 2026
Zone B @ Casey Fields
Track: Sprint Hurdles; Steeplechase – 2000m/ 3000m; 100m; 400m; 1500m
Field: Pole Vault; Long Jump; Discus; Javelin
AVSL ROUND 3:
Saturday 31 October 2026
Throws Venue @ Hampton
Shot Put; Discus; Hammer Throw; Javelin
PSST …MUM’S THE WORD … LET’S KEEP IT QUIET – BY THE VALLEY WILL BE PLAYING ITS POWERPLAY (DOUBLE THE POINTS EARNED FOR THE ROUND) IN AVSL ROUND 5.
The Home venue is Doncaster & the events are:
TRACK: Long Hurdles; Race Walk (1500m/3000m); 200m; 800m; 4 X 400m Relay; 3000m; 5000m
FIELD: Pole Vault; Triple Jump; Shot Put; Hammer Throw
This is a call to all valley folk to step up & do their bit – even for one event.
