SHIELD JOURNEY BEGINS WITH SUCCESS
The Diamond Valley Athletic Club started the 2025/2026 AVSL season off having to overcome the tyranny of distance as well as the bane of track & field athletes alike, strong winds. The journey to Williamstown was fraught with the challenge of negotiating a recently developed freeway system that produced a number of “stories” throughout the day. By the end of Round 1, the DVAC score of 45,179 had the club placed in second position on the Premier Division ladder and well situated to enjoy another successful summer season. In all 70 DVAC athletes (40 Male/30 Female) competed in Round 1 of the AVSL during Round 1.
Welcome to the Valley:
Eighteen athletes made their debut with the Diamond Valley Athletic Club in Round 1 of the AVSL summer season. The athletes welcomed to the DVAC family were: Wilson Riley (M16), Chelsea King (F14), Mia Bunyard (F14), Angus Nicholls (M16), Hudson McGregor (M16), Gemma Johansen (FOp), Gabriel Kozaris (M14), Jett Hollingsworth (M14), Tommi Rowe (M14), James D’Antonio (M16), Noah Toskovski (M14), Tom Harrison (M14), Aria-Rose Cerqueira (F14), Flynn Brockett (M16), Ahmad Sbayeh (M18), Isabella Napoletano (F16), Oskar Jacobson (M14), Ian Kozaris (M45).
It was also great to welcome Taylor Radatti (FOp) and Jesse Mayne (FOp) back to the Valley team after a break.
Blowin’ with the Wind:
Sprinters took full advantage of the strong tail winds to open their season account with great times.
At Williamstown, Jamie Ritchie (F16) ‘blew’ the field away (with a tail wind reading at 4.1) in the top heat of the Women’s 200m to cross in 24.51. Her DVAC club record is 24.42 & at the Nationals in Perth last summer, Jamie won the F15 200m Championship with 23.77 with a 2.6 tail wind.
Katie Oliver (FOpen) launched the 2025/2026 season off with a big pb in the 100m, crossing in 12.00. Oh yes, there was a slight tail wind measured at 4.8. But you have to be good enough to take advantage of the conditions.
Blowin’ into the Wind:
Distance runners had the challenge of coping with strong head winds at both venues. The 800m runners often coped well on the first lap but found the second time into the wind very difficult. Caden Murray (MOp) was one of the few to produce even splits as he powered home to cross in 2:01.9. Matilda Johnson (F16) recorded the best 800m time for the Valley women with 2:16.6.
The 3000m runners had to contend with the strong winds at Williamstown down the back straight seven times and few managed to post pb times as a result. The best times for the Valley came from Jesse Mayne (FOp) who shrugged off concerns about the conditions to run an evenly paced 3000m and clock 11:20.5while Caden Murray (MOp) backed up his strong performance in the 800m with a 9:04.6 in the 3000m.
GIRLS RULE:
Diamond Valley’s two top points scorers were Liv Nicholls (F18) and Aylaa Arunan (F14). Liv was the only DVAC athlete to score over the ‘magic’ 1000 points with a total of 1,047. These points were won in the High Jump (1.41m/ 361pts), Triple Jump (9.06m/ 351pts) & 200m (29.51/ 317pts). Liv also did the Shot Put & Hammer Throw.
Aylaa’s points came from the Triple Jump (8.86m/ 383pts), High Jump (1.21m/ 320pts) & Shot Put (6.54m/ 278pts).
FIELD STARS:
Some wonderful performances were achieved out in the Field events at Williamstown. Toby Hamilton (M18) cleared 1.91m (447pts); Wilson Riley sent the Hammer out 46.39m (322pts). Chehan Udugampala (M18) has started the season off in great form with the Throws events. Vanessa Smith showed her versatility as an athlete; strong results with the Hammer Throw & Shot Put and then then does a 9.11m in the Triple Jump!
DVAC welcomes Gemma Johansen (FOp) who adds great strength to the Throws events. Hanna Rowe (F18) turned in good performances in the Hammer Throw & Shot Put.
RING THE BELL – IT’S A PB!
Despite the wild winds at Willy, there were still a number of Valley athletes who got to RING THE BELL to tell the world they had just recorded a personal best (pb) performance. This list will not include the athletes who competed at Knox. Happy to add them if they email me at mbalchin29@bigpond.com
200m:
Tom Harrison (M14): 25.79; Flynn Brockett (M16): 25.92; Wilson Riley (M16): 27.85; Angus Nicholls (M16): 29.57; Liv Nicholls (F18): 29.51
800m:
Isabella Napoletano (F16): 2:44.4; Zoey Ryan (F18): 2:53.8
Triple Jump:
Elliot Williams (M18): 12.20m
Hammer Throw:
Wilson Riley: (M16): 46.39m
Shot Put:
Maryann Murray (F50): 6.50m
AVSL LADDERS FOR RD 1 2025/2026
The DVAC Women Open team and the Female 40+ team are both on top of their division ladders at the end of Round 1. The M16 & M18 teams are each in second place after Round 1. Let’s get behind each division team & push them forward in Round 2.
DVAC IN PREMIER DIVISION – 2ND/10
ROUND 1 AGE DIVISION RESULTS
Female Open: 1st/ 29 teams
Male Open: 6th/ 35 teams
F20: 3rd/ 21 teams
M20: DNS/ 30 teams
F18: 4th / 29 teams:
M18: 2nd / 30 teams
F16: 22nd / 35 teams
M16: 2nd / 31 teams
F14: 10th / 33 teams
M14: 3rd / 28 teams
F40: 1st/ 19 teams:
M40: 5th / 28 teams
F50: 6th / 23 teams:
M50: 7th / 30 teams
F60: 6th / 1 4 teams
M60: 4th / 30 teams
AVSL RD 1 DVAC RESULTS
AVSL Round 1
Saturday 11 October 2025
Williamstown & Knox
DVAC Results:
Female OP
100m: Taylor Radatti 13.64 (2.5);
200m: Sarah Papadopoulos 38.81 (3.8);
800m: Sarah Papadopoulos 3:32.9h;
3000m: Jesse Mayne 11:20.5h;
Hammer: Sarah Papadopoulos 14.92m; Gemma Johansen 36.06m; Lucinda Derrett 28.55m;
Pole Vault: Elyssia Kenshole 3.90m;
Shot Put: Sarah Papadopoulos 5.63m; Gemma Johansen 9.36m; Lucinda Derrett 7.19m;
Female 20
100m: Katie Oliver 12.00 (4.8);
200m: Mackenzie Genders DNS;
400m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 66.03;
1500m: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 5:22.10;
3000m: Ella Littlehales 12:31.0h;
Hammer: Vanessa Smith 34.06m;
Shot Put: Vanessa Smith 7.34m; Mackenzie Genders DNS;
Triple Jump: Vanessa Smith 9.11m; Mackenzie Genders 10.29m;
Female 18
200m: Liv Nicholls 29.51 (3.7); Zoey Ryan 30.60 (3.9); Kirra Wright 32.70 (3.7);
800m: Zoey Ryan 2:53.8h;
Hammer: Zoey Ryan NM; Liv Nicholls 12.08m; Hanna Rowe 37.68m;
High Jump: Liv Nicholls 1.41m;
Shot Put: Kirra Wright 7.07m; Zoey Ryan 8.94m; Liv Nicholls 6.50m; Hanna Rowe 9.58m;
Triple Jump: Liv Nicholls 9.06m;
Female 16
200m: Jamie Ritchie 24.51 (4.1);
800m: Matilda Johnson 2:16.6h; Isabella Napoletano 2:44.4h;
Female 14
100m: Chelsea King 14.06 (2.2); Aria-Rose Cerqueira 14.26 (-3.9); Mia Bunyard 14.97 (0.2);
400m: Mia Bunyard 71.00;
High Jump: Aylaa Arunan 1.21m; Chelsea King 1.36m;
Shot Put: Aylaa Arunan 6.54m;
Triple Jump: Aylaa Arunan 8.86m;
Female 40
200m: Victoria Lindores 32.52; Meg Nicholls 33.90; Kate Ryan 35.14 (3.8);
800m: Kate Ryan 3:09.5h;
3000m: Kate Ryan 14:56.9h;
Hammer: Briony Rheuben DNS;
High Jump: Meg Nicholls 1.11m;
Shot Put: Kate Ryan 6.47m; Meg Nicholls 5.47m; Victoria Lindores 6.92m; Briony Rheuben DNS;
Triple Jump: Meg Nicholls 7.04m; Victoria Lindores 7.70m;
Female 50
200m: Sarah Gittins DNF;
Hammer: Maryann Murray 17.42m; Sarah Gittins 16.35m;
Shot Put: Maryann Murray 6.50m; Sarah Gittins 5.65m; Anni Rowe 7.00m;
Female 60
100m: Jo Moxon 21.66 (0.8);
800m: Michelle King 3:45.4h;
3000m: Michelle King 16:34.0h;
2000m Walk: Jo Moxon 16:31.40;
Hammer: Michelle King 18.23m;
Shot Put: Michelle King 6.83m;
Male OP
200m: James Hurley 24.50 (4.1); Joshua Scott 26.42 (3.0);
400m: Dillon Vidanapathirana 66.05;
800m: Caden Murray 2:01.9h;
3000m: Caden Murray 9:04.6h;
High Jump: James Hurley 1.56m;
Shot Put: Caden Murray 6.69m; Joshua Scott 7.83m;
Triple Jump: James Hurley 11.51m;
Male 18
100m: Harvey McGregor 11.80 (1.9);
200m: Charlie Cooper 24.00 (4.7);
800m: Thomas Short 2:02.4h; Glen Imbriano 2:05.6h; Charlie Cooper 2:16.4h;
1500m: Nicholas Tomkins 4:23.59;
3000m: Jack Daley 11:08.4h; Glen Imbriano 11:37.3h;
3000m Steeple: Ahmad Sbayeh 10:55.35;
Discus: Chehan Udugampala 35.61m;
Hammer: Chehan Udugampala 37.18m; ;
Javelin: Chehan Udugampala 37.55m;
Shot Put: Elliot Williams 9.97m; Chehan Udugampala 12.33m;
Triple Jump: Elliot Williams 12.20m;
Male 16
100m: James D'Antonio 11.63 (0.6); Josh Koegler 11.95 (0.6); Christos Kozaris 12.01 (3.2); Kai Bunyard 12.33 (0.3); Hudson McGregor 12.82 (0.3); Jesse Porter 13.00 (3.4);
200m: Flynn Brockett 25.92 (4.3); Wilson Riley 27.85 (4.5); Angus Nicholls 29.57 (4.3);
400m: Kai Bunyard 56.90; Hudson McGregor 58.79;
3000m: Myles Boyle 9:40.2h; William Quigley 9:58.3h;
Discus: Wilson Riley SCR;
Hammer: Wilson Riley 41.40m; 46.39m;
High Jump: Toby Hamilton 1.91m; Angus Nicholls 1.21m; Jesse Porter 1.56m;
Javelin: Toby Hamilton 41.18m;
Shot Put: Wilson Riley 11.54m; Angus Nicholls 6.73m;
Triple Jump: Wilson Riley SCR; Angus Nicholls 7.73m;
Male 14
100m: Noah Toskovski 14.82 (1.6);
200m: Tom Harrison 25.79 (4.3);
400m: Jett Hollingsworth 68.20; Noah Toskovski 69.47;
1500m: Jett Hollingsworth 4:53.30;
3000m: Oskar Jacobson 10:33.5h;
Discus: Gabriel Kozaris 25.10m;
Hammer: Tommi Rowe 18.22m;
Javelin: Gabriel Kozaris 30.69m;
Shot Put: Tommi Rowe 7.15m; Gabriel Kozaris SCR;
Male 40
100m: Ian Kozaris 13.92 (1.6);
200m: Cyrus Wong 31.26 (3.8);
5000m: Cyrus Wong 21:52.8h;
Shot Put: Arunan Arumainayagam 5.34m;
Triple Jump: Cyrus Wong 7.79m;
Male 50
200m: Adam Scott 27.54 (5.4);
Discus: Lalith Udugampala 29.89m;
Javelin: Lalith Udugampala 34.56m;
Shot Put: Adam Scott 6.45m; Lalith Udugampala 10.10m;
Male 60
100m: Bruce Wood 17.84 (3.9);
200m: Greg Luck 31.27 (3.8); Jeff Young 33.01 (4.3);
800m: Jeff Young 3:12.3h;
3000m: Jeff Young 16:26.9h;
2000m Walk: Bernie Keirl 12:08.06;
Discus: Bruce Wood 31.06m;
High Jump: Greg Luck 1.16m;
Javelin: Bruce Wood 22.05m;
Shot Put: Greg Luck 6.39m; Jeff Young 5.75m; Luke De Biasi SCR;
Triple Jump: Greg Luck SCR;
Officials: Patrick Clarke; David Armstrong; Jane Lacock; Paul Schofield; Shania Murray; Jeff Hughes;
