News

XCR'26 RD 7_ROAD RACES AT ALBERT PARK

Published Mon 27 Jul 2026

ROAD RACING TAKES WINGS AT ALBERT PARK

The Diamond Valley crew were walking tall at the end of the 10km & 3km Road Races at Albert Park. So many great runs, so many happy athletes. Three medals, strong team results and lots of pb’s were recorded by the DVAC athletes in Round 7 of the XCR’26 season. A total of 48 DVAC athletes (23 Female & 25 Male) took part in the three races held on Sunday morning.

THE HEIDI KUPPLER TRAIN

Heidi Kuppler already has a long history of arriving at the finish line ahead of the train of runners behind her and at Albert Park the sight of Heidi storming around the track at Lakeside ahead of any other female runners in the 3km event was entirely in keeping.

Heidi Kuppler won the Female Under 16 3km Road Race in 9:49. Heidi was the first female over the line, including the Open age athletes.

Heidi is one of six DVAC athletes who will be competing at the 2026 Australian Cross Country Championships that will be held at Victoria Park, Ballarat, on Saturday 22 August 2026. The other Valley athletes racing in this year’s National Cross Country Championships will be Matilda Johson (F17), Rose Jarvis (F18), Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (F20), William Quigley (M17) & Jordan Rudd (M Open Para).

PODIUM PLACINGS TO POPPY & ETHAN

The 10km Road Races at Albert Park proved to be a breakthrough experience for two deserving DVAC athletes, Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (F20) and Ethan Armstrong-Bourne (M20). The two Bronze medallists at Lakeside had their first podium placings for 2026, after having a consistent and high quality season.

Poppy Scot-Dalgleish recorded the fastest 10km for the DVAC Women in Rd 7 with a finishing time of 36:12.

Ethan Armstrong-Bourne (M20) completed the 10km in a personal best time of 31:26 to record the second fastest run for the Valley men.

EMERGING DEPTH OF DISTANCE RUNNING AT THE VALLEY

There was a total of 36 DVAC athletes (16F & 20M) who completed the 10km at Albert Park compared to the 25 who ran the 10km Road Race in 2025. This added depth meant that DVAC was able to score points for more teams than previously.

FEMALE OPEN TEAMS

The Open Female Division 2 team at Albert Park was made up by Jesse Mayne (38:54), Erin Maloney (39:33), Mikaela Gray (39:36) and Shania Murray (40:33) and the team finished in fourth position out of the 11 teams. The DVAC Div 2 team will go into the next Round of XCR’26 season in 3^rdposition on the season ladder.

The Valley Division 4 team (Sarah Leeming 40:57; Alana Barnes 41:58; Alison Knuckey 42:57; Tayla Borg 45:54;) finished second in Rd 7 and will remain in 3^rd place on the season ladder.

Valley was able to fill two Female Division 5 teams (Tayla Borg 45:54; Kate Ryan 48:08; Lily Barnes 48:10; Debbie McKenzie 50:11; Jo Moxon 58:23; Elyse Littlejohn 1:03:43;) for the first time in ages.

The Female Open Short Course team finished in 4^th place but will remain on top of the season ladder with a commanding lead.

MALE OPEN TEAMS

Great spirit shown at Lakeside by all the Open Men’s teams. The Division 2 team (Caden Murray 30:54; Tim Logan 31:47; Vincent Donnadieu 32:09; Lachlan Deller 33:16; Dylan Littlejohn 34:53; James Telford 36:02;) finished in 6^th place and will hold their 6^th place on the season ladder.

The depth of 10km runners at the Valley allowed for a Division 4 team that finished 5^th/13 teams, and a Division 7 team that finished 12^th/23 teams.

The Valley M Open Short Course team (Ross McDonald 11:31; Andrew McKenzie 12:21; Lyal Douglas 13:17) won top points and will now hold a 1 point lead at the top of the season ladder.

JUNIOR BATTLES GOING ON

The Male U20 Division is a battlefield but at the end of Rd 7 the Valley warriors still hold a lead of ONE point at the top of the season ladder.

The Female U20 team had their best result for the season finishing in 2^nd place at Lakeside and now sit in third position on the season ladder.

The Male U18 team won the day at Lakeside thanks to (William Quigley 32:27; Brodie Batt 32:50; Asher Knuckey 35:36) and will now move to third place on the season ladder.

The Female U18 team finished 2^nd at Lakeside and will go into Rd 8 with a clear lead on the season ladder.

OVERAGE … BUT BATTLE CONTINUES

For several years the DVAC M60 teams have dominated the Short Course season and they are putting up a magnificent fight in 2026. The M60 Short Course team are coming from behind the team from Mornington and their win in Round 7 has propelled the team to top of the ladder with equal points. The big question is … can we get a team to Ballarat for Rd 9?

Other Short Course teams doing well include the Female Open SC team that still holds top place on the season ladder with a good sized lead.

The Male Open Short Course team is just hanging on to top position at the end of Rd 7.

THANKS A LOT …

A massive THANK YOU goes to LYN DAVIS & BROOKE RUDD for filling the DVAC Club Helper roles at the Finish Line on Sunday.

Most of the Valley crew congregated in the Stands around the Valley Banner (brought along by David Armstrong).

XCR’26 RD 7: 10km/ 3km ROAD RACES

ALBERT PARK

Saturday 26 July 2026

DVAC Results:

FEMALE:

Open Female 10km:

10km: Jesse Mayne 38:54; Erin Maloney 39:33; Mikaela Gray 39:36; Shania Murray 40:33; Sarah Leeming 40:57; Alana Barnes 41:58; Alison Knuckey 42:57; Tayla Borg 45:54; Kate Ryan 48:08; Lily Barnes 48:10; Debbie McKenzie 50:11; Jo Moxon 58:23; Elyse Littlejohn 1:03:43;

Team Results (10km):

Female Open Division 2:250(4)51, 60, 61, 78: 4^th/11 Teams: Ladder Pts: 8

Female Open Division 4: 276(3)82, 91, 103: 2^nd/11 Teams: Ladder Pts: 14

Female Open Division 5 (1): 442(3)135, 153, 154: 3^rd/16 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Female Open Division 5 (2): 534(3)166, 182, 186: 6^th/16 Teams: Ladder Pts: 6

Female 40+ (1):110(3)17, 42, 51: 11^th/31 Teams: Ladder Pts: -

Female 40+ (2):63(1)63: 31^st/31 Teams: Ladder Pts: -

Female 50+:59(2)25, 34: 11^th/17 Teams: Ladder Pts: -

Female 60+:10(1)10: 7^th/7 Teams: Ladder Pts: 4

Female Short Course: 3km

3km: Michelle King 15:43; Sarah Papadopoulos 16:18; Maryann Murray 18:03;

Team Results (3km):

Female Open (SC):57(3)16,19,22: 4^th/15 Teams: Ladder Pts: 7

Female 40+ (SC):19(2)7, 12: 2^nd/10 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Female 50+ (SC):14(2)5, 9: 2^nd/7 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Female 60+ (SC):4(1)4: 4^th/6 Teams: Ladder Pts: 7

Female U20: 10km:

10km: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 36:12; Ella Littlehales 43:18; Zoey Ryan 44:15;

F20 Team Result:28(3)3, 11, 14: 2^nd/10 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Female U18: 3km:

3km: Rose Jarvis 10:46; Madeleine Arvaji 11:13; Isabella Napoletano 11:23; Lucy Johns 14:15;

F18 Team Result:39(3)8, 15, 16: 2^nd/13 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Female U16: 3km:

3km: Heidi Kuppler 09:49; Sanna Kersten 12:06; Sofia Norwood 13:42;

F16 Team Result:55(3)1, 24, 30: 4^th/16 Teams: Ladder Pts: 7

MALE:

Open Male 10km:

10km: Caden Murray 30:54; Tim Logan 31:47; Vincent Donnadieu 32:09; Lachlan Deller 33:16; Dylan Littlejohn 34:53; James Telford 36:02; Lucas Camuncoli 36:28; Charles Jacobson 37:15; Craig Cassidy 37:42; Jordan Rudd 38:30; Blake Barnes 38:30; Rory McPhillips 39:45; Scott Barnes 41:28; Damien Clifford 47:33;

Male Open (10km) Team Results:

Male Open: Division 2: 669(6)35, 59, 76, 119, 173, 207: 6^th/14 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Male Open: Division 4:1,249(5)214, 242, 252, 270, 271: 5^th/13 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Male Open: Division 7:1,026(3)302, 220, 294: 12^th/23 Teams: Ladder Pts: -

Male 40+ (1) (10km):91(3)16, 36, 39: 6^th/43 Teams: Ladder Pts: 2

Male 40+ (2) (10km):271(3)64, 80, 127: 31^st/62 Teams: Ladder Pts: -

Male 50+ (10km):106(3)9, 33, 64: 9^th/35 Teams: Ladder Pts: -

Male Open 3km (Short Course):

3km: Ross McDonald 11:31; Andrew McKenzie 12:21; Lyal Douglas 13:17; Jeff Young 14:06; Jesse Littlehales 14:15;

Male Short Course (3km) Team Results:

Male Open 3km (SC (1)):44(3)11, 14, 19: 2^nd/17 Teams: Ladder Pts: 9

Male Open 3km (SC (2)):47(2)23, 24: 7^th/17 Teams: Ladder Pts: 4