SUNDAY HEROES SAVE THE VALLEY HOPES
The band of Valley heroes who competed in AVSL Round 3B on Sunday 8 February have kept the Diamond Valley Athletic Club premiership hopes for the 2025/2026 season alive. The 46 athletes (20 Female & 26 Male) who headed off to Aberfeldie or Frankston managed to score a total of 33,313 points for the round and finish in third place in the Premier Division, earning a valuable 8 points. This score puts DVAC eight points behind the top placed team on the Season ladder with two vital rounds of AVSL remaining. In Round 9, DVAC will use its Power Play to double the points earned for the round. If the DVAC athletes get behind this call for support on Saturday 21 February there is a chance that DVAC could take the lead on the season ladder with one round to go.
Round 3B was never going to be easy. Only athletes who had booked in for the original Round 3 by Wednesday October 5th 2025 were eligible to compete for points. Many of the junior DVAC athletes were off competing in the Littles Regional Championships. The day before a number of DVAC athletes had competed in the Athletics Australia Short Course Championships (inc. PV), Victorian Milers Club Meet #4, and Rare Air (PV) at Lakeside Stadium. Throw in the crazy weather that prevailed and the DVAC athletes that did compete showed remarkable resilience.
DVAC M60+ LEAD THE TEAM SCORES
Who to turn to when many of the Valley juniors are elsewhere? The DVAC M60+ team, of course! This team of 7 athletes, Luke De Biasi, Bruce Wood, Jeff Young, Greg Luck, Lyal Douglas, Andrew McKenzie and Bernie Keirl pumped out 4979 points for the day, leading all Valley teams. It helps when Luke De Biasi heads the DVAC MVA List with 1179 points. Luke was best performed in the M60+ in the Long Jump (5.09m), 100m (13.89), & Javelin (28.07m). It also helps when Bruce Wood wins the Discus (31.71m), Andrew McKenzie wins the 800m (2:43) and the DVAC 4x100m Relay teams is the only team going around in the age group. The DVAC M60+ team won top points in Rd 3B for their Age Group and closed the gap they trail Collingwood to 3,536 points. Two brilliant Rounds to come …
DVAC F 40+ TEAM STREAK CONTINUES
Unbeaten in the 2025/2026 season, the three amigas, Kate Ryan, Meg Nicholls and Victoria Lindores won a season high total of 2,869 points to continue their dominant season. Between the three athletes (with a little help from Gaelyne Kenshole in the Relay) they competed in 14 events for the day. Victoria Lindores ran the fastest 100m time (15.93) and won the Long Jump (3.87m), and the DVAC 4x100m Relay (63.57) went unchallenged. Kate Ryan peeled 7 seconds off her previous best time for the 1500m with a time of 6:17.87.
Two other teams that won valuable points in Rd 3B were the F20 team (Mackenzie Genders, Poppy Scot-Dalgleish, Ella Littlehales, Maddison Nash, Vanessa Smith and Tara Smith) - (3411) who placed 2nd for the Round with 3411 points and the MOpen team (James Hurley, Dillon Vidanapathirana, Joshua Scott, Blake Barnes & Jesse Littlehales) who placed 2nd for the Round with 2887 points.
Other DVAC Age Group teams finished Round 3B in the following places:
Female: Open 6th; U20 2nd; U18 3rd: U16 20th; U14 -; 40+ 1st; 50+ 4th; 60+ 4th
Male: Open 2nd; U20 7th; U18 8th; U16 6th; U14 -; 40+ 11th; 50+ 8th; 60+ 1st
LIV & VANESSA’S GRAND DAY
Liv Nicholls (F18) and Vanessa Smith (F20) both cracked the 1000 points for Round 3B with a string of great performances. Liv cleared 1.47m for the High Jump to set a new personal best height and score 383 points. Her other scoring events were Long Jump (4.10m), 100m (14.28) and the 4 x 100m Relay. Liv also included the Javelin and Discus in her super busy schedule. Liv is placed third on the F18 season MVA Ladder with 6951 points.
Vanessa has been launching huge throws with the Javelin at training and on Sunday it all came together with a new pb throw of 39.90m (379pts). Vanessa’s other scoring events were the Discus (30.04m), Long Jump (3.73m) and the 4 x 100m Relay.
Vanessa is currently placed 4th on the season F20 MVA ladder with 5441 points.
SPEED MACHINES:
Jaxon Latchman (M18) led the time for DVAC Men over the 100m when he crossed in third place in Heat 1 in a time of 11.42 (417pts). Jaxon was 2nd fastest in the M18 for the round. Harvey McGregor (M18) was another speedster to go under 12 for the 100m with 11.92.
Keely Boyne (FOpen) raced on Thursday night at HVC, Saturday night when she made the finals of the Australian 60m Championships and then showed up to race 100m at Aberfeldie on Sunday. Keely won Heat 1 and led the times for the Female Open with a12.36 recorded after waiting for the rain to stop!
PREP FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Jordan Rudd (M20) and William Quigley (M16) backed up from competing at Vic Milers on Saturday night to race in AVSL Rd 3B at Aberfeldie on Sunday. With Championships coming up this is a good way to prepare for having to compete on multiple days. Jordan competed in the Long Jump (4.28m) and the 400m (60.08). William ran the fastest 1500m for Valley men with a 4:23.98.
VALLEY ATHLETES IN THE TOP TEN ON THE SEASON MVA LADDERS:
F40-44:Victoria Lindores:5th:
F45-49:Meg Nicholls:2nd:
F45-49:Kate Ryan:4th:
F55-59:Debbie McKenzie:2nd:
F60-69:Jo Moxon:4th:
F60-60:Michelle King:5th:
M65+:Bruce Wood:6th:
M60-64:Greg Luck:3rd:
M60-64:Luke De Biasi:6th:
M50-54:Adam Scott:5th:
M Open:James Hurley:8th:
M16:Wilson Riley:7th:
(Max Balchin)
AVSL RD 3 (B):
Aberfeldie & Frankston
Sunday 8 February 2026
DVAC Results:
Female OP
100m: Keely Boyne 12.36 (0.7); Sarah Papadopoulos 17.62 (-0.9);
1500m: Jesse Mayne 4:54.40;
2000m Walk: Sarah Papadopoulos 14:29.8h;
4x100m: (Liv Nicholls, Zoey Ryan, Vanessa Smith, Mackenzie Genders) 58.54; (Jo Moxon, Sarah Gittins, Michelle King, Tara Smith) 75.81;
Discus: Sarah Papadopoulos SCR; Gemma Johansen SCR;
Long Jump: Sarah Papadopoulos 3.02m;
Female 20
100m: Mackenzie Genders 13.62 (-0.7);
400m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 65.45;
1500m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 5:18.10; Ella Littlehales 5:49.95;
5000m Walk: Maddison Nash DNF;
Discus: Vanessa Smith 30.04m; Tara Smith 29.04m;
Javelin: Vanessa Smith 39.90m; Tara Smith 29.48m;
Long Jump: Vanessa Smith 3.73m; Mackenzie Genders 4.64m;
Female 18
100m: Liv Nicholls 14.28 (2.0);
1500m: Zoey Ryan 5:40.14;
Discus: Liv Nicholls 9.61m; Hanna Rowe 21.95m; Arianna Krebs 30.89m;
High Jump: Liv Nicholls 1.47m;
Javelin: Zoey Ryan 23.42m; Liv Nicholls 13.27m; Hanna Rowe 17.36m; Arianna Krebs 24.74m;
Long Jump: Liv Nicholls 4.10m;
Female 16
100m: Bethany Krebs 14.32 (-0.4);
100m Hurdles: Bethany Krebs 18.83 (-1.7);
High Jump: Bethany Krebs SCR;
Female 14
100m: Aria-Rose Cerqueira 13.80 (-0.7); Maddie Laws 14.41 (-0.4);
Female 40
100m: Victoria Lindores 15.40 (0.3); Meg Nicholls 16.44 (-0.7); Kate Ryan 17.58 (-0.7);
400m: Kate Ryan 79.14;
1500m: Kate Ryan 6:17.87;
4x100m: (Gaelyne Kenshole, Meg Nicholls, Kate Ryan, Victoria Lindores) 63.57;
Discus: Meg Nicholls 11.73m;
High Jump: Meg Nicholls 1.12m; Victoria Lindores 1.07m;
Javelin: Kate Ryan 14.50m; Meg Nicholls 9.60m; Victoria Lindores 13.14m;
Long Jump: Meg Nicholls 3.28m; Victoria Lindores 3.87m;
Female 50
100m: Sarah Gittins 18.56 (-0.9);
400m: Sarah Gittins 1:49.52;
Discus: Gaelyne Kenshole 18.90m; Sarah Gittins 14.60m;
Javelin: Gaelyne Kenshole 16.12m; Sarah Gittins 11.03m;
Long Jump: Gaelyne Kenshole 3.87m;
Female 60
100m: Michelle King 19.70 (-0.9); Jo Moxon 20.99 (-0.0);
400m: Jo Moxon 1:37.43; Michelle King 88.85;
1500m: Jo Moxon 7:16.75; Michelle King 7:54.65;
2000m Walk: Jo Moxon 15:05.7h;
Male OP
100m: James Hurley 12.21 (-0.2); Dillon Vidanapathirana 12.73 (0.2); Joshua Scott 12.77 (0.6);
400m: Dillon Vidanapathirana 58.36;
1500m: Blake Barnes 4:31.52; Jesse Littlehales 6:07.98;
4x100m: (Joshua Scott, Angus Nicholls, Blake Barnes, James Hurley) 50.88;
High Jump: James Hurley 1.52m;
Javelin: Joshua Scott 29.43m;
Long Jump: Jesse Littlehales DNS; James Hurley 5.68m;
Male 20
400m: Jordan Rudd 60.08;
Discus: Asher Andrews 34.79m;
Javelin: Asher Andrews 43.63m;
Long Jump: Jordan Rudd 4.28m;
Male 18
100m: Jaxon Latchman 11.42 (-2.6); Harvey McGregor 11.92 (-0.2); Elliot Williams 12.69 (-0.2);
1500m: Nicholas Tomkins 4:32.96; Jack Daley 5:06.54;
High Jump: Elliot Williams 1.57m;
Long Jump: Elliot Williams 5.49m; Jaxon Latchman SCR;
Male 16
100m: Angus Nicholls 14.59 (-0.1);
400m: William Quigley 59.07;
1500m: William Quigley 4:23.98; Asher Knuckey 4:42.26;
Discus: Wilson Riley SCR; Angus Nicholls 17.93m; Jerome Nu'U 40.76m;
Hammer: Wilson Riley DNS;
High Jump: Wilson Riley SCR; Angus Nicholls 1.17m; Jesse Porter SCR;
Javelin: Wilson Riley SCR; Angus Nicholls 12.60m;
Long Jump: Wilson Riley SCR; Angus Nicholls 3.38m;
Male 14
Discus: Tommi Rowe SCR; Gabriel Kozaris SCR;
Javelin: Gabriel Kozaris SCR;
Long Jump: Liam Carroll SCR;
Male 40
100m: Cyrus Wong 15.24 (-0.1);
1500m: Cyrus Wong 5:59.73;
4x100m: (Bruce Wood, Adam Scott, Cyrus Wong, Darren Rudd) 61.04;
Javelin: Cyrus Wong 25.19m;
Long Jump: Cyrus Wong 3.50m;
Male 50
100m: Darren Rudd 14.10 (0.7); Adam Scott 15.66 (0.7);
400m: Adam Scott 66.09;
Discus: Adam Scott 24.05m; Darren Rudd 20.00m;
Hammer: Darren Casey 19.81m;
Long Jump: Darren Rudd 4.15m; Darren Corden SCR;
Male 60
100m: Luke De Biasi 13.89 (0.7); Greg Luck 15.18 (-0.1); Jeff Young 15.35 (1.4); Lyal Douglas 17.00 (1.4);
400m: Lyal Douglas 74.03; Jeff Young 75.68; Greg Luck DNS;
800m: Andrew Mckenzie 2:43.32;
1500m: Lyal Douglas 6:51.69; Jeff Young 7:24.29;
2000m Walk: Bernie Keirl 12:53.6h;
4x100m: (Greg Luck, Luke De Biasi, Lyal Douglas, Jeff Young) 60.38;
Discus: Jeff Young 18.43m; Luke De Biasi 24.37m; Bruce Wood 31.71m;
High Jump: Greg Luck 1.22m;
Javelin: Luke De Biasi 28.07m; Bruce Wood 22.35m;
Long Jump: Greg Luck 3.21m; Luke De Biasi 5.09m;
Officials: Patrick Clarke; Jane Lacock; Paul Schofield; David Armstrong;
