HEIDI KUPPLER IS NO STICK IN THE MUD
Heidi Kuppler has not yet turned 14 and at Ballarat she won her third national Cross Country Championship. Heidi crossed the line at the end of a gruelling 4km race for the FU15 Championship in 15:09. This was the equal fastest time over the 4km course at Ballarat by any female and the average pace of 3:47 was the best pace on the day for the women. This pace was made more remarkable by the state of the course.
Victoria Park had been flooded during the week leading up to the Cross Country Championships and this resulted in a 2km course loop that offered little relief from ankle deep mud as well as obstacles that threatened the balance of every runner. The course design of constant turns and obstacles was only made more treacherous by the slippery surface at all points.
Heidi said that her approach to the challenge was: “I took short, light steps and used my arms to keep my balance.”“I felt good during the race and attacked the hills section. It was a tough course … but it was fun.”
This was the third Australian Cross Country Championship that Heidi has won. Heidi won the Under 10 Championship in Adelaide and the Under 11 Championship in Canberra. Heidi has also logged up three National Championships on the Track, the latest when she won the FU15 title over 3000min 9:35.38 in April this year in Brisbane.
Heidi picked up a second Gold Medal at Ballarat as a member of the winning Victorian team.
(To learn more about Heidi watch On Your Marks, Episode 14 on YouTube)
STRONG SHOWING BY THE VALLEY AT NATIONALS
The Diamond Valley Athletic Club had its best representation at a national Cross Country Championship with a total of 11 athletes (6 Female & 5 Male) competing in the Championship races. In highly competitive fields the Valley athletes were well placed in every race that they contested. The results are listed below.
On the Sunday, DVAC had four teams in the 4 x 2km Mixed Relay Championships. The DVAC teams competed in the U18, Open, 50+ & 60+ divisions. This meant that another 10 DVAC members got to enjoy the mud, bringing the total to 21 DVAC members to race at Ballarat.
Paul Schofield and Rick Clarke were busy in their roles as Officials over the weekend.
Tim Logan ran the Para 3km course and a guide to a vision impaired athlete.
MORE BLING STORIES:
Jordan Rudd (T20) won a Gold medal at Ballarat as a member of the winning Victorian team in the Para Senior 3km event. Jordan finished in 7th place in a time of 12:26.
The DVAC 60+ Mixed Relay team of Lyle, Douglas, Jo Moxon, Andrew McKenzie and Michelle King were jubilant with their Silver medal. Michelle King was handed the job of defending their second place and ran a great 2km leg to seal the deal.
2026 AUSTRALIAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday 22 August 2026
Victoria Park, Ballarat
DVAC RESULTS:
Female:
FU12 3km XC Final:Lizzie Rance:13:30: Place 27th: Field of 75
FU15 4km XC Final:Heidi Kuppler: 15:09: Place: 1st: Field of 72
FU17 4km XC Final:Matilda Johnson: 17:07: Place 12th: Field of 64
FU17 4km XC Final:Isabella Napoletano: 18:25: Place 42nd: Field of 64
FU18 4km XC Final:Rose Jarvis: 16:42: Place: 10th:Field of 59
FU20 6km XC Final:Poppy Scot-Dalgleish:26:37: Place: 26th: Field of 50
Male:
MU11 2km XC Final:Eli Drew: 8:41:Place: 49th: Field of 73*
(Eli is a DVLAC member)
MU15 4km XC Final:Myles Boyle: 15:01: Place: 20th: Field of 71
MU17 6km XC Final:William Quigley: 22:52: Place: 15th: Field of 74
MU18 6km XC Final:Brodie Batt:22:44: Place: 25th: Field of 67
Para Senior 3km XC Final:Jordan Rudd (T20):12:26:Place: 7th: Field of 25
Senior Men 10km XC Final:Caden Murray: 34:11:Place: 10th: Field of 86
SUNDAY 23 AUGUST 2026
AUSTRALIAN CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Victoria Park, Ballarat
MIXED RELAYS:
U18 Mixed Relay: 4 x 2km: 30:51: Place: 5th/ 37 Teams
Brodie Batt (6:54); Matilda Johnson (8:19); William Quigley (7:01); Rose Jarvis (8:13)
Senior Mixed Relay: 4 x 2km: 34:06: Place: 9th/ 12 Teams
Caden Murray; Shania Murray; Jarryd Cripps; Kaitlyn McIntosh
50+ Mixed Relay: 4 x 2km: 48:17: Place: 6th/ 7 Teams
Jeff Young (10:49); Kerryn Woods (13:42); Damien Clifford (11:29); Debbie McKenzie (11:43)
60+ Mixed Relay: 4 x 2km: 47:44: Place: 2nd/ 3 Teams
Lyle Douglas (11:09); Jo Moxon (13:20); Andrew McKenzie (10:37); Michelle King (12:04)
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL VALLEY MEMBERS OF TEAM VIC ON YOUR GREAT PERFORMANCES
(Max Balchin)
