GAELYNE KENSHOLE STRIKES GOLD AT WORLD MASTERS

Gaelyne Kenshole (F50) went to Daegu, Sth Korea to compete at the 2026 World Masters Athletics Championships with a plan to improve on the Bronze medal she had won in the Pole Vault at the 2025 World Championships in Florida, USA. Gaelyne has returned home wearing a Gold medal that she won in the Pole Vault with a clearance over 2.70m. Gaelyne also competed in the Triple Jump where she placed 5^th with a distance of 8.78m. This distance set a new Victorian record for the F50 Triple Jump.

Gaelyne was clearly thrilled with her time in Daegu and the achievements in both events when I got to speak with her. “It was so much fun! Over 100 Aussies were at Daegu for the Championships and there was such a supportive atmosphere. The team was very well organised. The Track and the facilities were unbelievable.”

“I felt good about the Pole Vault as I have focussed on the event at training and even cleared 3m at training. I had three attempts at 2.85m after I had won with 2.70m but the conditions were terrible with a strong headwind and torrential rain. I still came pretty close to a clearance!”

“One of the exciting features of competing at the World Champs is to line up against such great athletes. In the Triple Jump, one of the competitors was an Olympic Gold medallist!

“I knew the Victorian record for the F50 Triple Jump was 8.74m. I opened with 8.65m, so I was in shape to have a go at the record but it wasn’t until my sixth attempt that I landed to 8.78m effort.

“This was the third World Championship that I have competed in. The first one was in Perth ten years ago where I won a Silver medal in the Long Jump. Then in 2025 I travelled to Florida for the Indoor Championships and won a Bronze medal in the Pole Vault. Now I’m keen to get to the next World Outdoor Champs in Amsterdam and the next Indoor Champs in Florida.”

Congratulations to Gaelyne on a wonderful achievement at Daegu.

LALITH PUSHES THE DECATHLON POINTS TALLY TO A NEW HIGH

Lalith Udugampala, M50, was another DVAC athlete who returned from the World Masters Championships at Daegu having achieved great results. Lalith pushed his own club record for the Decathlon from 3386 points out to a new level of 4623 points when he did the Decathlon at Daegu.

“I was really happy with my work in the Decathlon, although the heat made it tough at times. They used the same weights for the implements and the same scoring system.”

“I would like to give a Thank-you to Paul Schofield for helping me in the High Jump. His assistance in the High Jump before I left added a good 20cm to my performance. I did the Javelin as an individual event and threw 42.33m which I believe will a new club record.”

“I would encourage others to compete at the World Championships. This was my first experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Daegu. You’re competing against great athletes in a well organised Championship. I made some contacts while in Daegu and I would like to compete at the next Outdoor World Championships in 2028.”

and who is also keen to continue the experience at Amsterdam in 2028.

Arunan Arumainayagam competed in the M45 Throws Pentathlon and Dino Imbriano ran in the M50 10km Road Race as well as the M50 5000m Track race.

2026 World Masters Athletics Championships

Daegu Stadium, Daegu, South Korea

August 22^nd – September 3^rd 2026

DVAC Results:

Female:

W55: Triple Jump: Gaelyne Kenshole: 8.78m: 5^th place

W55: Pole Vault: Gaelyne Kenshole: 2.70m: 1^st place

Male:

M50: Decathlon: Lalith Udugampala: 4623 points: 10^th place/ Field of 18

100m: 12.89 (5^th - 721pts); 400m: 1:6.91 (5^th - 426pts); 1500m: 7:57.22 (14^th - 65pts); 100m Hurdles: 19.74 (7^th - 425pts); High Jump: 1.42m (3^rd - 512pts); Pole Vault: 2.40m (4^th – 331pts); Shot Put: 10.41m (4^th – 608pts); Discus: 29.77m (7^th – 464pts); Javelin: 35.61m (7^th – 497pts)

M50: Javelin: Lalith Udugampala: 42.33m: (7^th – Field of 11)
M50: Discus: Lalith Udugampala: 29.35m: (12^th – Field of 17)

M45 Throws Pentathlon: Arunan Arumainayagam: 1735pts: 18^th place/ Field of 19

Hammer Throw: 21.42m (16^th – 279pts); Shot Put: 7.65m (18^th – 430pts); Discus Throw: 21.20m (18^th – 329pts); Javelin Throw: 24.86m (18^th – 301pts); Weight Throw: 7.89m (18^th – 329pts)

10km Road Race: Dino Imbriano: 45:52m (176^th/ Field of 203)

5km Track Race: Dino Imbriano: 19:39.38: (20^th/ Field of 26)

(Max Balchin)