BIG DAY OUT FOR THE VALLEY

The Diamond Valley Athletic Club enjoyed its most successful day for the 2025/2026 Summer season in Round 8 of the AVSL competition. A record turn-out of 85 athletes (40 Female & 45 Male) amassed the highest score for the season of 57,505 points to claim top spot on the Premier Division ladder for the round. The 8 point deficit to the top placed club on the season ladder has now been reduced to 6 points with three rounds remaining.

With three rounds of the AVSL season remaining, Diamond Valley now holds a great chance to take out the 2025/2026 AVSL Premiership. In Round 9 DVAC will use the Power Play to double the points for that round while both the top placed club on the season ladder, as well as the third placed club have already used their Power Play earlier in the season. It all comes down to the continued support of the Valley athletes in the run home.

DVAC COMPETES AT ABERFELDIE & FRANKSTON NEXT SUNDAY

This is the catch up Round for the washout in Round 3 and only those athletes who had entered for Round 3 can compete for points. There is a chance that AV will open the competition up to other athletes to compete by invitation. Check the AV website under Events to confirm your entry. DVAC has 85 athletes listed & 192 entries for the day. Competition at both venues gets under way at 12:00pm and ends around 4:30pm. Timetables are listed on the AV website.

SUNDAY 8 February 2026:AVSL Reserve Round: Aberfeldie/Frankston

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK …

DVAC athletes were blitzing the Track & Field events everywhere you looked on Saturday.

200m:See Jamie Ritchie fly in the top heat of the F200m. First over the line in 24.49 (504pts). Who’s on second? Katie Oliver in 25.26 (445pts). Heat 1 of the Men’s? Jaxon Latchman (M18) wins in a new pb of 22.28.

BOTHA GREAT ATHLETES: Brother & sister athletes, Zander & Talise Botha had a terrific day at Mt Evelyn. Zander (M16) pb’d in the 100m (12.09) and the 400m (52.98) while Talise (F16) pb’d in the 100m (13.80), 90m Hurdles (15.89) and the Long Jump (4.81m). Talise was ranked second for DVAC on the MVA list with 1,173 points for the day.

GAELYNE THE GREAT: Three DVAC club records in one afternoon is a super effort. Gaelyne Kenshole (F55) broke club records in the Pole Vault (2.75m); Shot Put (7.89m) and the Triple Jump (8.35m). Look at the top of the DVAC MVA list and you will find Gaelyne’s name with a total of 1,176 points.

CADEN AND THE GANG: Caden Murray was edged out of winning the Men’s 3000m by 0.01 second when he crossed in 8:27.73 but if he was disappointed he would have been happy to see the progress of his disciples following in his wake: there was Brodie Batt (M18) 9:09.69; William Quigley (M16) 9:20.08 (pb); Myles Boyle (M16) 9:24.97; Rhodri Whelan (M20) 9:32.30 (pb); and Asher Knuckey (M16) 10:29.20. Oh, and Caden was also pleased that his time for the 800m was a new pb time of 1:57.29.

MATILDA LEADS THE 1500m: Matilda Johnson (F16) ran in the top heat of the 1500m at Mt Evelyn and finished strongly to cross in first place in a time of 4:44.81. This performance was backed up by other members of the the Valley distance team: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (F20) led the 800m times with 2:26.17; Jesse Mayne (FOpen) lead the 3000m teams with 10:56.82.

VALLEY VAULTERS: Elyssia Kenshole (FOpen) cleared 4.10m at Aberfeldie in Rd 8 and set a venue record. Toby Hamilton (M16) soared to a new personal best height on 4.40m and rewrote the DVAC club records, including the Open Men.

F40 & M16 TEAMS TOP THE STATE: Last week DVAC had 5 Age Group teams head the State for Rd 7 and this week it was the F40 & M16 teams that achieved the feat.

The F40 team of Kate Ryan, Meg Nicholls and Victoria Lindores extended their lead on the season ladder.

The M16 team of Zander Botha, Samuel Thompson, Hudson McGregor, Josh Koegler, Christos Kozaris, Wilson Riley, Angus Nicholls, Toby Hamilton, Yorke Murray, Asher Knuckey & William Quigley piled on the points with a total of 7629 for the day. This leaves the team 2,865 points behind Casey Cardinia with three rounds remaining.

In Round 8 the DVAC Age Division teams finished in the positions as listed:

Female – Open 6th/37; U20 2^nd/20, U18 3^rd/34; U16 3^rd/41; U14 9th/38; 40+ 1st/30; 50+ 2^nd/ 28; 60+ 5th/18

Male – Open 4th/ 43; U20 5^th/34; U18 7^th/37; U16 1^st/38; U14 19th/33; 40+ 12^th/34; 50+ 5th/34; 60+ 2^nd/33.

WELCOME BACK! Ines Caton-Smith (F18) and Maddison Nash (F20) made welcome returns to the Valley line-up for the season. Ines sent the Javelin out for 30.95m while Maddison completed the 3000m Walk in 14:45.0 at Mt Evelyn.

PB’S R’ US:

So many Valley athletes with personal best performances in Round 8. Here are just some of the pb’s posted that have not already been mentioned:

Sarah Gittins (F50): Shot Put 7.66m; 200m 30.72; Victoria Lindores (F40) Triple Jump 8.02m; Rhodri Whelan (M20) 200m 28.36; Josh Koegler (M16) 200m 23.49; Christos Kozaris (M16) 200m 23.93; Hudson McGregor (M16) 400m 54.40; Wilson Riley (MU16) Hammer Throw 38.46m; Angus Nicholls(MU16) Triple Jump 8.52m

(Max Balchin)

AVSL Rd 8

Saturday 31 January 2026

Aberfeldie & Mt Evelyn

DVAC Results:

Female:

Female OP
100m: Keely Boyne 12.07 (3.1);
200m: Sarah Papadopoulos 38.08 (-0.9);
800m: Sarah Leeming 2:41.14; Sarah Papadopoulos 3:34.46;
3000m: Jesse Mayne 10:56.82; Sarah Leeming 11:38.17;
4x400m: (Ella Littlehales, Jesse Mayne, Sarah Leeming, Sarah Papadopoulos) 5:24.77;
Hammer: Sarah Papadopoulos 13.85m;
Pole Vault: Elyssia Kenshole 4.10m;
Shot Put: Sarah Papadopoulos 5.58m; Elyssia Kenshole 9.86m;
Female 20
200m: Katie Oliver 25.26 (-0.4); Mackenzie Genders 28.96 (+0.0);
800m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 2:26.17; Ella Littlehales 2:49.06;
3000m: Ella Littlehales 12:28.22;
3000m Walk: Maddison Nash 14:45.0h;
Hammer: Vanessa Smith 33.99m; Tara Smith 42.43m;
Shot Put: Vanessa Smith 8.04m; Tara Smith 7.45m;
Triple Jump: Vanessa Smith 8.58m; Tara Smith 8.21m;
Female 18
200m: Liv Nicholls 30.48 (-0.6);
800m: Zoey Ryan 2:43.70; Lucy Johns 3:05.73;
3000m: Zoey Ryan 13:43.01;
4x400m: (Liv Nicholls, Zoey Ryan, Sanna Kersten, Anu Conley) 4:55.55;
Hammer: Zoey Ryan NM; Liv Nicholls 12.61m; Hanna Rowe 42.33m; Arianna Krebs 27.07m;
Javelin: Ines Caton-Smith 30.95m;
Shot Put: Zoey Ryan 9.19m; Liv Nicholls 5.98m; Hanna Rowe 9.21m; Arianna Krebs 9.80m;
Triple Jump: Liv Nicholls 8.89m;
Female 16
100m: Talise Botha 13.80 (0.1);
200m: Jamie Ritchie 24.49 (-0.4); Danika Coppola 27.80 (+0.0); Chloe Van Werkhoven 28.18 (-0.6); Bethany Krebs 29.41 (-0.9); Anu Conley 29.80 (-0.9);
400m: Talise Botha 68.90;
800m: Isabella Napoletano 2:34.60; Sanna Kersten 2:49.04;
1500m: Matilda Johnson 4:44.81;
90m Hurdles: Talise Botha 15.89 (-1.7);
400m Hurdles: Bethany Krebs 78.62;
Long Jump: Talise Botha 4.81m;
Female 14
100m: Zoe Strangis 13.38 (0.7); Monica Szymanski 14.26 (-1.1);
200m: Aria-Rose Cerqueira 28.77 (+0.0); Maddie Laws 30.37 (-0.6); Aylaa Arunan 31.03 (+0.0);
400m: Eadie Raso 66.37;
Shot Put: Aylaa Arunan 6.80m;
Triple Jump: Aylaa Arunan 9.49m;
Female 40
200m: Victoria Lindores 32.53 (+0.0); Meg Nicholls 34.37 (+0.0);
800m: Kate Ryan 3:06.04;
3000m: Kate Ryan 14:29.35;
4x400m: (Kate Ryan, Meg Nicholls, Debbie McKenzie, Michelle King) 5:54.52;
Shot Put: Kate Ryan 6.39m; Meg Nicholls 5.32m; Victoria Lindores 6.73m;
Triple Jump: Meg Nicholls 7.42m; Victoria Lindores 8.02m;
Female 50
200m: Sarah Gittins 30.72 (-0.1); Debbie McKenzie 37.57 (-0.9);
800m: Debbie McKenzie 3:06.15;
3000m: Debbie McKenzie 13:55.03;
Hammer: Gaelyne Kenshole 21.22m; Sarah Gittins 16.13m;
Pole Vault: Gaelyne Kenshole 2.75m;
Shot Put: Gaelyne Kenshole 7.89m; Sarah Gittins 7.66m;
Triple Jump: Gaelyne Kenshole 8.35m;
Female 60
200m: Jo Moxon 44.68 (-0.1);
800m: Michelle King 3:36.51; Jo Moxon 3:39.61;
3000m: Jo Moxon 15:50.01;
Hammer: Michelle King 19.74m;
Shot Put: Jo Moxon 4.33m; Michelle King 6.87m;
Male:

Male OP
100m: Dillon Vidanapathirana 12.73 (0.2);
200m: Hayden Moon 23.23 (+0.0); James Hurley 24.32 (0.1); Joshua Dowling 25.26 (+0.0); Dillon Vidanapathirana 26.67 (2.1);
800m: Caden Murray 1:57.29; Jesse Littlehales 2:55.63;
3000m: Caden Murray 8:27.73;
4x400m: (Adam Scott, Toby Hamilton, Wilson Riley, Asher Knuckey) 4:20.13;
Shot Put: Caden Murray 6.71m; Joshua Scott SCR;
Triple Jump: Jesse Littlehales 7.51m; James Hurley 11.72m;
Male 20
200m: Jordan Rudd 27.02 (+0.0); Rhodri Whelan 28.36 (-0.3);
800m: Jordan Rudd 2:16.13;
3000m: Jordan Rudd 10:33.04; Rhodri Whelan 9:32.30;
Shot Put: Asher Andrews 11.52m;
Male 18
100m: Harvey McGregor 11.91 (-1.0);
200m: Jaxon Latchman 22.28 (+0.0);
800m: Thomas Short 1:58.89; Glen Imbriano 2:01.42; Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 2:02.67;
3000m: Brodie Batt 9:09.69;
Hammer: Chehan Udugampala 30.07m;
Shot Put: Elliot Williams 9.49m; Chehan Udugampala 11.89m;
Triple Jump: Elliot Williams 11.80m;
Male 16
100m: Zander Botha 12.09 (-0.3); Samuel Thompson 12.44 (-0.9); Hudson McGregor 12.54 (-0.9);
200m: Josh Koegler 23.49 (+0.0); Christos Kozaris 23.93 (-1.0); Wilson Riley 28.56 (-0.3); Angus Nicholls 31.10 (-0.3); Toby Hamilton DNS;
400m: Zander Botha 52.98; Hudson McGregor 54.40; Samuel Thompson 56.19; Yorke Murray 57.11;
800m: Asher Knuckey 2:20.42;
3000m: Asher Knuckey 10:29.20; William Quigley 9:20.08; Myles Boyle 9:24.97;
Discus: Zander Botha DNS;
Hammer: Wilson Riley 38.46m;
Long Jump: Zander Botha DNS;
Pole Vault: Toby Hamilton 4.40m;
Shot Put: Toby Hamilton 7.83m; Wilson Riley 10.69m; Angus Nicholls 5.28m; Jerome Nu'U 13.22m; 13.51m;
Triple Jump: Angus Nicholls 8.52m;
Male 14
100m: Tom Harrison 12.88 (-0.9);
Hammer: Tommi Rowe 20.85m; Gabriel Kozaris 29.21m;
Shot Put: Tommi Rowe 7.32m;
Male 40
200m: Cyrus Wong 32.63 (-0.3);
800m: Cyrus Wong 3:02.54;
5000m: Cyrus Wong 23:12.5h;
Hammer: Arunan Arumainayagam 17.71m;
Shot Put: Arunan Arumainayagam 6.41m;
Triple Jump: Cyrus Wong 7.20m;
Male 50
200m: Lalith Udugampala 26.99 (+0.0); Darren Rudd 29.15 (-0.3); Adam Scott 30.78 (0.2);
800m: Adam Scott 2:42.79;
Hammer: Darren Casey DNS;
Shot Put: Darren Casey SCR; Adam Scott 6.60m; Darren Rudd 8.46m; Lalith Udugampala 9.61m;
Triple Jump: Darren Rudd 9.10m; Lalith Udugampala 9.42m;
Male 60
200m: Luke De Biasi 28.69 (+0.0); Greg Luck 31.16 (-0.3); Jeff Young 32.63 (-1.2); Lyal Douglas 36.08 (-0.4); Andrew McKenzie 40.10 (+0.0);
800m: Andrew McKenzie 2:41.55; Lyal Douglas 2:52.71; Jeff Young 2:59.42;
3000m: Andrew McKenzie 13:27.39; Lyal Douglas 14:24.41;
300m Hurdles: Luke De Biasi 51.13;
1500m Walk: Bernie Keirl 9:43.4h;
4x400m: (Lyal Douglas, Greg Luck, Andrew McKenzie, Jeff Young) 5:36.42;
Discus: Bruce Wood 30.03m;
Hammer: Luke De Biasi SCR; Bruce Wood 28.43m;
Javelin: Bruce Wood 20.33m;
Shot Put: Greg Luck 6.55m; Jeff Young 6.11m; Luke De Biasi 10.84m; Bruce Wood 10.60m;
Triple Jump: Greg Luck 7.98m;

Officials: Patrick Clarke; Stuart Schnaars; Jane Lacock; Jeff Hughes; Shania Murray; David Armstrong; Paul Schofield;