VALLEY ATHLETES HIT THE ROADS AT BALLARAT

DVAC was well represented at this year’s Ballarat Marathon & Festival of running. Fourteen runners from the Valley ran either the Marathon or Half Marathon on Sunday 26 April 2026.

One of these, Dylan Littlejohn, reported that he found the second half of the 42.2km very difficult. “It wasn’t the heat but the wind that made it so hard in the second half of the race. I had run well through the first half but I really struggled for a while after that. I don’t think that I was the only one, either. To come out with a pb, even if it was a 2 second pb was some comfort.”

Mikaela Gray finished the Marathon in 3:02:19 and lowered her

previous best time by 7 minutes. Mikaela was placed third in the F25-29 age group and 21^st Female. A great result.

Apologies for any DVAC athletes I have missed out. I am happy to correct the report on the valleyaths.com website. (Max Balchin)

2026 BALLARAT MARATHON

Sunday 26 April 2026

Ballarat Town Hall

DVAC Results:

Marathon:

Female:

Mikaela Gray: (F25-29) 3:02:19 (3^rd -106); Sarah Leeming (F30-34) 3:38:09 (35^th/110); Deb McKenzie (F55-59) 4:29:24 (18^th/24)

Male:

Dylan Littlejohn (M40-44) 2:44:37 (8^th/264); Charles Jacobson (M45-49) 2:57:01 (12^th/140); Lachlan Deller (M35-39) 2:57:30 (58^th/370); Rory McPhillips (M40-44) 3:14:20 (77^th/264); Jamie Hollingsworth (M45-49) 3:31:26 (88^th/190); Damien Clifford (M55-59) 4:08:16 (45/74); Andrew McKenzie (M60-64) 4:29:24 (24/35);

Half-Marathon:

Female:

Elyse Littlejohn (F35-39): 2:46:15 (247/261)

Male:

James Telford (M35-39) 1:25:43 (69^th/348); Scott Barnes (M55-59) 1:38:56 (10^th/90); Rick Clarke (M55-59) 1:58:09 (53/90)

RUN THE TAN

Diamond Valley should be proud that our club was represented by two athletes in the Elite Para field at the hugely popular Run The Tan. One lap of The Tan measures 3.827km and the course records are held by Jessica Hull (11:31 / 2023) and Craig Mottram (10:08/ 2006). 

Jaryd Clifford (T12) was guided by his old mate, Tim Logan and crossed the finish in 11:58.69. This placed Jaryd as 4^th in a field of 14.

Jordan Rudd (T20) lowered his previous best time of 14:26.84 for the Tan to 13:47.10. This placed Jordan as 12^th in a field of 14 in the Elite Para field.

Great running!