GEARING UP FOR CROSS COUNTRY AT THE VALLEY
A healthy crew of 23 athletes set off from the Willinda Park track and headed out on the Plenty River trails for the 2025 Cross Country Trials on Saturday 26 April 2025. With the first round of the Cross Country season only a fortnight away it was time to turn attention to the longer distances and build up stamina for the opening event at Hanging Rock.
The course for 2025, constrained by the temporary closure of bridges along the Plenty River, still managed to offer an attractive and challenging run over 3km for the Junior athletes and 6.5km for the Open age and Masters athletes.
Thanks to Maryann Murray and Shania Murray for setting the course out in readiness for the Trials. There were plenty of willing helpers on the day to ensure the orderly management of the event: these included Paul Schofield, Caden Murray, Lyn Davis, Chris Whelan, David Armstrong, Greg Luck and Max Balchin.
Placegetters for the categories were as follows:
Female:
Junior: 3km: (1st) Matilda Johnson, (2nd) Rose Jarvis, (3rd) Grace Robinson
Open: 6.5km: (1st) Sarah Papadopoulos
Masters: 6.5km: (1st) Kate Ryan, (2nd) Michelle King
Male:
Juniors: 3km: (1st) Ethan Armstrong-Bourne, (2nd) Brodie Batt, (3rd) Rhodri Whelan
Open: 6.5km: (1st) Michael Martello, (2nd) James Stephens
Masters: 6.5km: (1st) Mark Jarvis, (2nd) Jamie Hollingsworth, (3rd) Craig Cassidy
Diamond Valley Athletic Club
2025 Cross Country Trials
Willinda Park
Saturday 26 April 2025:
Results:
Open: Women:
6.5km: Kate Ryan 34:49.02; Michelle King 37:52.31; Sarah Papadopoulos 41:53.59
Junior Women:
3km: Matilda Johnson 10:54.31; Rose Jarvis 11:13.22; Grace Robinson 12:23.94; Lucy Johns 14:35.52; Zoey Ryan 19:24.56
Open: Men:
6.5km: Michael Martello 24:43.74; Mark Jarvis 27:10.27; Jamie Hollingsworth 27:35.59; James Stephens 29:11.80; Craig Cassidy* 29:12.04; Marty Berriman 29:12.04; Charles Jacobson 30:51.16; James Telford 30:51.35
Junior Men:
3km: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 9:40.95; Brodie Batt 10:09.87; Rhodri Whelan 10:40.83; Jett Hollingsworth 10:52.93; Jack Daley 15:04.11; Jeff Young 16:31.93; Greg Luck 18:45.09
GAELYNE KENSHOLE LEADS VALLEY TREASURE HUNT.
Six DVAC athletes competed at the 2025 Australian Masters Athletics Championships held in Adelaide from 18-21 April 2025. While each Valley athlete achieved outstanding results in their competition there was a total of eight medals (2 Gold, 4 Silver and 2 Bronze) won across the weekend.
Leading the Valley medal haul was Gaelyne Kenshole (W55) who returned with a Gold medal for her 8.03m leap in the Triple Jump and a clearance over 2.50m in the Pole Vault and Silver medals in the Long Jump (3.99m) and the 80m Hurldes (16.01).
Colin Newman (M40) completed his great season in athletics with Silver medal performances in the Hammer Throw (33.93m) and the Shot Put (13.25m).
Lyle Douglas (M65) fittingly won a medal in his favourite event, the 400m. Lyle completed the one lap in 70.80.
Arunan Arumainayagam (M45), Bruce Wood (M70) and Adam Scott (M50) all competed at the national Masters Champs. Arunan had a super busy program competing in a total of seven events.
2025 AUSTRALIAN MASTERS ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
SA Athletics Stadium
Adelaide
18-21 April 2025:
Women:
W55: Gaelyne Kenshole Hammer Throw: 22.58m 8th
W55: Gaelyne Kenshole Long Jump 3.99m 2nd (Silver)
W55: Gaelyne Kenshole 80m Hurdles 16.01 2nd (Silver)
W55: Gaelyne Kenshole Triple Jump 8.03m 1st (Gold)
W55: Gaelyne Kenshole Pole Vault 2.50m 1st (Gold)
Men:
M65 Lyal Douglas 800m 2:43.17 4th
M65 Lyal Douglas 400m 70.80 3rd (Bronze)
M40 Colin Newman Hammer Throw 33.99m 2nd (Silver)
M40 Colin Newman Shot Put 13.25m 2nd (Silver)
M45 Arunan Arumainayagam Hammer Throw 24.10m 7th
M45 Arunan Arumainayagam Long Jump 3.33m 5th
M45 Arunan Arumainayagam Shot Put 7.74m 9th
M45 Arunan Arumainayagam Discus 24.37m 9th
M45 Arunan Arumainayagam Javelin 29.15m 7th
M45 Arunan Arumainayagam Weight 7.06m 7th
M45 Arunan Arumainayagam Throws Pent. 1542pts 5th
M50 Adam Scott 200m 26.52 5th
M70 Bruce Wood Hammer Throw 26.79m 5th
M70 Bruce Wood Shot Put 11.16m 4th
M70 Bruce Wood Javelin 26.73m 5th
M70 Bruce Wood Discus 30.45m 5th
M70 Bruce Wood Weight 9.62m 5th
M70 Bruce Wood Throws Pent. 2508 5th
BOSTON MARATHON
Three DVAC athletes completed the recent Boston Marathon held on Monday April 21 2025. This was the 129th running of the Boston Marathon.
Mikaela Gray (F25) finished in a personal best time of 3:09:53.
Andrew McKenzie (M60) finished in 4:27.50.
Debbie McKenzie (F55-59) finished in a time of 4:27:51.
Lachlan Deller (M34) finished in 2:50:53.
All at the Diamond Valley Athletic Club congratulate Mikaela, Andrew and Lachlan on their achievement.
BALLARAT MARATHON
Seven DVAC athletes completed the Half Marathon at the Ballarat RUNTHERAT Festival of running where a total of over 6500 runners lined up for the Marathon and Half Marathon events.
Shania Murray ran her second Half Marathon in two weeks after her run at Christchurch, NZ on 13th April. At Ballarat Shania finished in 1:24:14 and was placed 7th/256 in the F25-29 division.
Caden Murray lowered his best time for the Half Marathon to 1:08:01 and was placed 7th/179 in the M20-24 division.
Dylan Littlejohn was placed 5th/199 in the M40-44 division with a time of 1:17:06
Charles Jacobson (M40-44): Half Marathon: 1:20:37 (17th/199)
Isaac Craig (U19): Half Marathon: 1:17:54 (4th/44)
Brody McCarthy (20-24): Half Marathon: 1:27:16 (47/179)
James Telford (35-39): Half Marathon: 1:27:24 (58/309)
Rory McPhillips (40-44): 10km: 42:53 (16/68)
Sarah Leeming (30-34): Marathon: 3:38:35 (32/89)
All at the Valley congratulate all seven on their excellent achievements.
RUN THE TAN
Sunday 27 April 2025
DVAC should take pride in the fact that our club was represented by two athletes in a field of 14 Elite Para Athletes (Male) to line up for the Run the Tan event on Sunday 27 April 2025.
Jaryd Clifford (T12) completed the 3.827km lap of the Tan in 11:05.23 to place 2nd in the field.
Jordan Rudd (T20) was clocked at 14:26:46 for his lap and was placed at 13th.
