VALLEY ATHLETES PASS CROSS COUNTRY TEST AT MYRNIONG
The second round of the Athletics Victoria 2025 Cross Country season was set among the vineyards and surrounding acreage at St Anne’s Winery, Myrniong. Over four races, athletes were set distances of 4km, 7km and 12km that worked around the property. The 38 Diamond Valley Athletic Club athletes (14 Female & 24 Male) were challenged by the distance, the hills, the wind and the rough terrain. A positive feature of the DVAC turnout was the mix of Open age, Overage and Junior athletes whose results contributed to a total of 29 teams for the round.
GOOD RESULTS BY DVAC DIVISION 2 TEAMS
Both the DVAC Female & Male Division 2 teams drew on the depth of talent to post encouraging results at Myrniong. The DVAC Open Female team finished in 4th place out of the ten team division. The team was led by Mikaela Gray, who completed the tough 12km course in 51:38 and she finished in 32nd place in a field of 114. Mikaela completed the Boston Marathon just over a month ago in 3:09:53 and her pace judgement is a great strength. The F Div 2 team was completed by Alana Barnes, 58:50, who was having her first run for the season; Debbie McKenzie, 1:04:27, and Kate Ryan, 1:07:28.
Vincent Donnadieu was another athlete having his first run for the season and led the Valley Male Division 2 team home in 40:08 to finish in 20th place out of a field of 335. Blake Barnes, returned to the Valley team and followed home in 43:45. Then followed Dylan Littlejohn, 46:44; Joel Imbriano, 46:49; Charles Jacobson, 48:11; and Craig Cassidy 49:22 to complete the 6 member team. The DVAC team finished in 7th position in the 14 team division.
TOP THREE PLACE GETTERS
Five DVAC athletes were placed in the top three of their divisions at Myrniong. Jett Hollingsworth had his first podium finish when he crossed the MU14 4km Cross Country race in 14:50 to place third. This followed an exciting win by Jett at the local schools Cross Country last Thursday.
The list of top three placegetters is listed below:
Andrew McKenzie M60+ SC (7km) 32:51 1st
Michelle King F60+ SC (7km) 42:36 2nd
Michael Martello M Open SC (7km) 26:58 2nd
Martin Murray M60+ SC (7km) 34:34 3rd
Jett Hollingsworth MU14 (4km) 14:50 3rd
Champion Athlete Top Three:
Andrew McKenzie will go into the lead on the season Champion Athlete ladder for the M60+ (Short Course).
Michael Martello will hold on to second place on the season Champion Athlete ladder for the Open Men (Short Course).
M60+ SHORT COURSE LEADERS
The Male 60+ Short Course team have been placed first in their division for the second round this season and will have a good lead on the season championship. The winning team at Myrniong was made up by Andrew McKenzie, 32:51; Martin Murray, 34:34; and Rob Wendel, 37:44.
The depth of the DVAC Men 60+ Short Course athletes was highlighted with a second team of Lyal Douglas, 38:39; Jeff Young, 42:52; Greg Luck, 50:49; placing 4th out of the 8 teams.
DVAC CLUB HELPER AT MYRNIONG
Jo Moxon was the volunteer to fill the DVAC Club Helper duty at Marshall Point 5. It is worth noting that Marshall Point 5 was probably the most remote duty point on the course. Jo was stationed out on duty for the whole of the event. A huge vote of thanks to Jo for her generosity.
Lyn Davis kept times for each athlete as they crossed the line.
Maryann Murray was out on the course taking photos.
Thanks to David Armstrong who had the Valley Tent in prime position ready for the first athletes to arrive. Thanks to the team who helped with the pack up.
Thanks to all those who contributed to the food stock on the Valley table at the Tent. It was well appreciated.
ONE CHANGE TO THE COURSE YOU WOULD MAKE …
Andrew McKenzie: “Windshields … that wind was hard.”
Karen Quinn: “Cut some of those branches. I got whacked.”
Myles Boyle: “Less rocks and gravel. Fewer hills.”
Glen Imbriano: “Three times up the main hill was too many.”
Oskar Jacobson: “Not so hilly in the middle.”
Jett Hollingsworth: “Too many potholes.”
Rose Jarvis: “Fewer hills.”
Lucy Johns: “I was happy with it.”
Holly Gregory: “Nothing.”
XCR’25 RD 2: CROSS COUNTRY AT ST ANNE’S WINERY, MYRNIONG
Saturday 25 May 2025
DVAC Results:
DVAC FEMALE:
Female Open 12km
12km: Mikaela Gray 51:38; Alana Barnes 58:50; Debbie McKenzie 1:04:27; Kate Ryan 1:07:28;
Team Results:
Female Open Division 2: 285 (4) 32,66, 90, 97: 4th/11 Teams
Female 40+: 57 (2) 25, 32 32: 12th/22 Teams
Female 50+: 18 (1) 18:/ 13th/18 Teams
7km: Michelle King 42:36; Sarah Papadopoulos 45:21; Karen Quinn 53:04; Elyse Littlejohn 53:21;
Team Results:
Female Open: 61 (3) 18,20, 23: 3rd/16 Teams
Female Open (2): 24 (1) 24: 16th/16 Teams
Female 40+: 34 (2) 15,19: 4th/13 Teams
Female 50+: 26 (2) 11,15:/ 4th/10 Teams
Female 60+: 7 (1) 2,5: 2nd/3 Teams
Female 18
4km: Rose Jarvis 16:14; Lucy Johns 19:48; Holly Gregory 19:52; Zoey Ryan 20:35;
Team Results:
F Under 18 (1): 52 (3) 9,21,22: 4th/15 Teams
F Under 18 (2): 25 (1) 25: 15th/15 Teams
Female 16
4km: Grace Robinson 17:53; Isabella Napoletano 18:26;
Team Results:
F Under 16: 19 (2) 9,10: 4th/8 Teams
Male Open
12km: Vincent Donnadieu 40:08; Blake Barnes 43:45; Dylan Littlejohn 46:44; Joel Imbriano 46:49; Charles Jacobson 48:11; Craig Cassidy 49:22; Flynn Connolly 52:06; Brody McCarthy 54:42; Rory McPhillips 55:26; Scott Barnes 56:34;
Team Results:
Male Open: Division 2: 657 (6) 20,65,118,120,156,178: 7th/14 Teams
Male Open: Division 5 992 (4) 220,250,257,265: 5th/13 Teams
Male 40+ (1): 66 (3) 14,23,29: 5th/55 Teams
Male 40+ (2): 161 (2) 78,83: 40th/55 Teams
Male 50+: 39 (1) 39:/ 31st/40 Teams
7km: Michael Martello 26:58; Andrew McKenzie 32:51; Martin Murray 34:34; Rob Wendel 37:44; Lyal Douglas 38:39; Jeff Young 42:52; Greg Luck 50:49;
Team Results:
Male Open (1):: 31 (3) 2,13,16: 2nd/22 Teams
Male Open (2): 84 (3) 25,26,33: 5th/22 Teams
Male Open (3): 36 (1) 36: 22nd/22 Teams
Male 40+ (1): 36 (3) 7,10,19: 3rd/16 Teams
Male 40+ (2): 77 (3) 20,27,30 4th/16 Teams
Male 50+ (1): 23 (3) 3,6,14: 2nd/13 Teams
Male 50+ (2): 60 (3) 15,21,24: 3rd/13 Teams
Male 60+ (1): 11 (3) 1,3,7: 1st/8 Teams
Male 60+ (2): 22 (2) 8,14: 4th/8 Teams
Male 20
7km: Rhodri Whelan 26:51; Jordan Rudd 29:44;
Team Results:
M Under 20: 30 (2) 14,16: 7th/9 Teams
Male 18
7km: Brodie Batt 26:22; Glen Imbriano 27:17;
Team Results:
M Under 18: 41 (2) 19,22: 5th/17 Teams
Male 16
4km: Myles Boyle 14:25;
Team Results:
M Under 16: 8 (1) 8: 7th/11 Teams
Male 14
4km: Jett Hollingsworth 14:50; Oskar Jacobson 16:19;
Team Results:
M Under 14: 19 (2) 3,16: 5th/15 Teams
