WINTER 2026 OFF TO A GREAT START AT THE VALLEY

Distance running is alive & well at the Valley. The opening round of the winter season with Athletics Victoria saw 54 DVAC athletes (24 Female & 30 Male) take to the roads around the Albert Park lake to cover a 5km course. The DVAC results for both teams and individuals were the best start to a season that the Valley has enjoyed.

Fittingly on Mother’s Day, the DVAC women led by example. The Open Female Division 2 team finished in third place to mark their best opening round on record. Erin Maloney (18:46), Mikaela Gray (18:48), Jesse Mayne (19:02) and Shania Murray (19:27) led a strong squad of DVAC runners’ home. Erin is having her first season in open ranks and will add to the depth of talent.

Maddison Nash (19:32), Alana Barnes (19:56) and Alison Knuckey (20:36) put the DVAC team in Division 4 into second place out of 13 teams in the class. Maddison, a champion Walks athlete, showed that she is ready to enjoy a season of running. DVAC welcomed Alison on her first appearance with Diamond Valley.

The Female U20 team finished in second place out of 14 teams. Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (17:45), Georgia L’Estrange (20:45) and Ella Littlehales (21:21) put the team off to a strong start to the season. Poppy ran the second fastest time for the DVAC women over the 5km Road Race and she was placed 6^th in the U20 field.

Matilda Johnson (17:35) won the Gold medal in the Female U18 event. Matilda recorded the fastest 5km for the Valley women on the day.The DVAC U20 team was completed by Rose Jarvis (18:49) and Isabella Napoletano (19:48) and was placed second out of the 18 teams. Zoey Ryan (21:03) adds to the depth of talent in this age group.

In the Men’s competition, DVAC junior men’s teams were the best placed on the day. Both the DVAC M20 and M18 finished in second place on the teams’ competition at Lakeside.

Ethan Armstrong-Bourne (15:27), Rhodri Whelan (16:42) and Thomas Short (16:42) made up the Under 20 team score but they were quickly followed in by Glen Imbriano (16:56).

Brodie Batt (15:22), Asher Knuckey (17:19) and Zander Botha (17:40) made up the Under 18 team score that placed second, but Jack Daley (18:25) and Walter Somers (19:37) shows the depth of abilty in this age group.

Caden Murray (14:23) was placed 26^th in a field of 600 and his time was the best for the DVAC men. Caden was followed in by Tim Logan (15:18), Vincent Donnadeui (15:25), Blake Barnes (16:24), Lucas Cammuncoli (17:17) and Dylan Littlejohn (17:23) in a team that was placed 8^th in a list of 14 teams.

WELCOME TO THE VALLEY

DVAC was delighted to welcome the following athletes to the club:

Alison Knuckey; Tayla Borg (welcome back!); Lily Barnes; Ross McDonald; & Craig Batt.

THANK YOU

Lyn Davis filled the DVAC Club Helper duty at Lakeside. The duty was at the Drinks Station near the Finish line.

DVAC has three Club Helper duty spots to fill at Jells Park next Saturday: Spotter & Recorder on Start Line 4 & a Marshall at Point 9 (just south of Siberia). Surely DVAC can muster some assistance with these duties next Saturday. Please let Max know on 0409 350 280 if you can help.

XCR26 RD 1: 5km ROAD RACE @ ALBERT PARK

SUNDAY 10 MAY 2026

LAKESIDE, ALBERT PARK

DVAC RESULTS:

Female Open
5km:

Division 2: (4 member team): Erin Maloney 18:46; Mikaela Gray 18:48; Jesse Mayne 19:02; Shania Murray 19:27;

Place: 3^rd/11 teams: Score: 259(4)57, 59, 66, 77Ladder Pts: 9

Division 4: (3 member team): Maddison Nash 19:32; Alana Barnes 19:56; Alison Knuckey 20:36;

Place: 2^nd/13 teams: Score: 277(3)80, 90, 107Ladder Pts: 9

Division 5 (1): (3 member team): Sarah Leeming 20:55; Tayla Borg 22:33; Kate Ryan 22:42;

Place: 5^th/24 teams: Score: 428(3)114, 156, 158Ladder Pts: 7

Division 5 (2): (3 member team): Lily Barnes 22:48; Debbie McKenzie 23:28; Jo Moxon 27:02;

Place: 10^th/24 teams: Score: 538(3)160, 172, 206Ladder Pts: 9

Division 5 (3): (3 member team): Sarah Papadopoulos 28:37; Elyse Littlejohn 31:32;

Place: 19^th/24 teams: Score: 428(2)211, 217Ladder Pts: -

Female 20: 5km: (3 member team): Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 17:45; Georgia L'Estrange 20:45; Ella Littlehales 21:21;

Place: 2^nd/14 teams: Score: 43(3)6, 17, 20Ladder Pts: 9

Female 18: 5km: (3 member team): Matilda Johnson 17:35; Rose Jarvis 18:49; Isabella Napoletano 19:48;

Place: 2^nd/18 teams: Score: 37(3)1, 17, 20Ladder Pts: 9

Female 18: 5km: (3 member team): Zoey Ryan 21:03;

Place: 16^th/18 teams: Score: 23(1)23Ladder Pts: -

Female 16: 5km: (3 member team): Sanna Kersten 22:05; Heidi Kuppler;

Place: 14^th/18 teams: Score: 26(1)26Ladder Pts: -

Female 40: 5km: (3 member team): Alison Knuckey 20:36; Kate Ryan 22:42; Debbie McKenzie 23:28

Place: 9^th/40 teams: Score: 113(3)18, 44, 51Ladder Pts: 2

Female 40: 5km: (3 member team): Jo Moxon 27:02;

Place: 37^th/40 teams: Score: 75(1)75Ladder Pts: -

Female 50: 5km: (3 member team): Debbie McKenzie 23:28; Jo Moxon 27:02;

Place: 11^th/24 teams: Score: 59(2)20, 39Ladder Pts: -

Female 60: 5km: (3 member team): Jo Moxon 27:02;

Place: 7^th/9 teams: Score: 11(1)11Ladder Pts: 3

Male Open
5km:

Division 1: (6 member team): Caden Murray 14:23; Tim Logan 15:18; Vincent Donnadieu 15:25; Blake Barnes 16:24; Lucas Camuncoli 17:17; Dylan Littlejohn 17:23;

Place: 8^th/14 teams: Score: 825(6)26, 82, 92, 166, 225, 234: Ladder Pts: - 7

Division 4: (4 member team): Jordan Rudd 17:48; Charles Jacobson 18:00; Ross McDonald 18:58; Craig Cassidy 19:17; Scott Barnes 19:59;

Place: 10^th/13 teams: Score: 1457(5)251, 259, 301, 308, 338: Ladder Pts: 4

Division 7 (1): (4 member team): Andrew McKenzie 21:20; Damien Clifford 22:49; Jeff Young 23:35; Martin Murray 23:57;

Place: 11^th/35 teams: Score: 1647(4)380, 411, 425, 431: Ladder Pts: 0

Division 7 (2): (4 member team): Patrick Clarke 23:57; Jesse Littlehales 24:52; Lyal Douglas 24:53; Craig Batt 26:29;

Place: 12^th/35 teams: Score: 1779(4)432, 443, 444, 460Ladder Pts: 0

Male 20: (3 member team): Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 15:27; Rhodri Whelan 16:42; Thomas Short 16:42;

Place: 2^nd/15 teams: Score: 32(3)5, 13, 14Ladder Pts: 9 Points:

Male 20: (3 member team): Glen Imbriano 16:56;

Place: 12^th/15 teams: Score: 17(1)17Ladder Pts: 0

Male 18: (3 member team): Brodie Batt 15:22; Asher Knuckey 17:19; Zander Botha 17:40;

Place: 2^nd/27 teams: Score: 63(3)5, 27, 31Ladder Pts: 9

Male 18: (3 member team): Jack Daley 18:25; Walter Somers 19:37;

Place: 11^th/27 teams: Score: 75(2)36, 39Ladder Pts: 0

Male 16: (3 member team): Oskar Jacobson 17:50;

Place: 15^th/25 teams: Score: 20(1)20Ladder Pts: 0

Male 14: (3 member team): Jett Hollingsworth 17:53;

Place: 8^th/15 teams: Score: 7(1)7Ladder Pts: 3

Male 40: (3 member team): Dylan Littlejohn 17:23; Charles Jacobson 18:00; Ross McDonald 18:58;

Place: 11^th/24 teams: Score: 59(2)20, 39Ladder Pts: 3

Male 40: (3 member team): Craig Cassidy 19:17; Scott Barnes 19:59; Andrew McKenzie 21:20;

Place: 10^th/75 teams: Score: 119(3)25,36, 58Ladder Pts: 1

Male 40: (3 member team): Damien Clifford 22:49; Jeff Young 23:35; Martin Murray 23:57;

Place: 44^th/75 teams: Score: 255(3)134, 147, 152Ladder Pts: 0

Male 40: (3 member team): Patrick Clarke 23:57; Lyal Douglas 24:53; Craig Batt 26:29;

Place: 50^th/75 teams: Score: 494(3)153, 163, 178Ladder Pts: 0

Male 50: (3 member team): Ross McDonald 18:58; Scott Barnes 19:59; Andrew McKenzie 21:20;

Place: 10^th/55 teams: Score: 88(3)23, 25, 40Ladder Pts: 1

Male 50: (3 member team): Damien Clifford 22:49; Jeff Young 23:35; Martin Murray 23:57;

Place: 24^th/55 teams: Score: 234(3)62, 80, 92Ladder Pts: 0

Male 50: (3 member team): Patrick Clarke 23:57; Lyal Douglas 24:53; Craig Batt 26:29;

Place: 28^th/55 teams: Score: 302(3)97, 98, 107Ladder Pts: 0

Male 60: (3 member team): Ross McDonald 18:58; Andrew McKenzie 21:20; Jeff Young 23:35;

Place: 4^th/30 teams: Score: 59(3)20, 39Ladder Pts: 7

Male 60: (3 member team): Martin Murray 23:57; Lyal Douglas 24:53;

Place: 17^th/30 teams: Score: 77(2)35, 42Ladder Pts: 0

XCR’26 SEASON*:

Sat 16 May:XCR Rd 2: XC Relays:Jells Park

Sat 30 May:XCR Rd 3: 8km Cross Country:Bendigo

Sat 13 June: XCR RD 4: 12km Cross Country:Cruden Farm

Sat 20 June:All Schools CC Champs:Bundoora

Sun 28 June: XCR Rd 5: Road Relays:Calder Raceway

Sat 11 July:XCR Rd 6: 10km Cross Country:Bundoora

Sat 18 July:DVAC Binnak Bowl:Binnak Park

Sun 26 July:XCR Rd 7: 10km Road Race:Albert Park

Sun 9 Aug:XCR Rd 8: Half Marathon:Ballarat

Sat 15 Aug:DVAC Yellow Gum Park:Yellow Gum Park

Sun 6 Sept:XCR Rd 9: 15km Road Race:Ballarat

Sat 12 Sept:XCR Rd 10: Tan Relays:The Tan

(* Junior Distances are separate from those listed above)