POPPY SCOT-DALGLEISH WORKS THE BOULEVARD OF DREAMS
Poppy Scot-Dalgleish, 19, is fast making a mark on the Distance running community in Victoria. After a 10th placing in the Half Marathon at Ballarat last month, Poppy has moved up to take a 4th place finish in the XCR’26 Round 9 15km Road Race at Burnley. Her time for the 15km was 53:53, a time that equates to a 3:35/km pace.
Running three 5km loops along the Yarra Boulevard in Burnley posed no problems for Poppy as she set new personal best times for the 5km (17:40) and the 10km (35:20) along the way, before finishing with a final kilometre at 3:28 to finish 12 seconds behind the third placegetter. Her final time of 53:53 sets a new benchmark for females at the Diamond Valley Athletic Club over the 15km distance.
“I expected more girls to be in front of me. After I went out hard, I held 2nd place for a while before two other women passed me on the way to the finish. Because I have been racing U20’s for most of the season, I am just getting to know who is in the Open female field.”
“I found the middle kilometres harder in the Half Marathon, although at Burnley my pace dropped back to 3:40/km around the 12km mark. I have enjoyed both races and look forward to racing another Half Marathon at Ballarat in early 2027. Before that I will race the Victorian 5km Championships and a 10km in the Melbourne Marathon Festival.”
Poppy’s run was only one highlight of many for the Diamond Valley Athletic Club. The Female teams in particular had their best results for the season. The Open Division 2 team with Poppy Scot-Dalgleish (53:53), Sarah Leeming (62:54), Shania Murray (63:11) and Alana Barnes (65:42) scored their first top of the Division result this season.
They were backed up by second placings in both the Division 4 (Alison Knuckey, 65:45, Mikaela Gray, 67:41, and Ella Littlehales, 69:04) and the Division 5 (Kate Ryan, 74:41, Lily Barnes, 80:02, and Jo Moxon, 90:29).
ONE ROUND TO GO & THE VALLEY HAS FIVE PREMIERSHIPS IN THE BAG
The XCR’26 Short Course season concluded at Burnley. The final round for the season will be the Tan Relays on Saturday 12th September. This means that DVAC has scored Premierships in the following Short Course categories:
Open Female Short Course – scored a runaway victory for the season.
Open Male Short Course – finish on 57 points to Mornington 50 points.
M 60+ Short Course – this one could end at the High Court as both DVAC & Mornington finish on 80 points with equal number of wins & 2nd placings for the season. Joint winners? “It’s the vibe, Your Honour”.
Male U20: After a ‘pinch me’ victory at Burnley, the team now holds an 8 point lead & will defend it to the hilt at the Tan Relays. This will be a Premiership for the ages!
Female U18: A commanding lead on the season ladder after a terrific win in Round 9 at Burnley. Tan Relays will not stop this Teams from a premiership.
Jesse Mayne: XCR’26 Champion Athlete – Congratulations to Jesse Mayne who finished the Short Course season with a win in the Open Female Short Course, covering the 4km in 14:17.
Male Short Course teams in the M40+ and M50+ both finished in second place on the season ladder despite winning top points at Burnley.
MIRACLES MIGHT HAPPEN
The DVAC Female teams in Division 4 & Division 5 are not far away from gaining Promotion from next season but everything would have to go right at the Tan Relays.
MEDALS AT BURNLEY:
Congratulations to the following winners of individual medals in the 4km events:
Ethan Armstrong-Bourne: M20: 4km in 12:08 for a Bronze Medal
Madeline Arvaji: F18: 4km in 14:39 for a Silver Medal.
Brodie Batt: M18: 4km in 12:14 for a Bronze Medal
Jett Hollingsworth: U14: 4km in 13:30 for a Bronze medal.
OTHER TOP PERFORMERS AT BURNLEY:
Ross McDonald topped the M60 times over the 4km (16:08) course while Andrew McKenzie was third (16:54).
Michelle King was third fastest for the F60 over the 4km with 21:00.
Alison Knuckey predicted that she would place 4th in the F45 over the 15km and she was correct! Alison completed the 15km in 65:45.
GENDER NEUTRAL FINISH OVER 15km:
How good is DVAC to have both female & male leaders for the club over 15km cross the tape together on 53:53. Mind you Lachlan Deller did have to come from the clouds with a 3:01 last kilometre to catch Poppy Scot-Dalgleish who was cruising home at 3:28 for the final kilmetre.
XCR’26 RD 9: 15KM/4KM ROAD RACE AT BURNLEY
Sunday 6 September 2026
DVAC Results:
Female Open
15km: Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 53:53; Sarah Leeming 1:02:54; Shania Murray 1:03:11; Alana Barnes 1:05:42; Alison Knuckey 1:05:45; Mikaela Gray 1:07:41; Ella Littlehales 1:09:04; Kate Ryan 1:14:41; Lily Barnes 1:20:02; Jo Moxon 1:30:29;
4km: Jesse Mayne 14:17; Debbie McKenzie 19:09; Vanessa Botha (inv) 19:34; Michelle King 21:00; Sarah Papadopoulos 22:30; Elyse Littlejohn 25:05;
Female 18
4km: Madeleine Arvaji 14:39; Isabella Napoletano 15:14; Zoey Ryan 17:07;
Female 16
4km: Sanna Kersten 16:45;
Male Open
15km: Lachlan Deller 53:53; Lucas Camuncoli 56:03; Joel Imbriano 56:35; Dylan Littlejohn 57:17; Craig Cassidy 59:16; Rory McPhillips 1:06:42; Scott Barnes 1:08:39; Damien Clifford 1:20:49;
4km: Jordan Rudd 14:12; Ross McDonald 16:08; Andrew McKenzie 16:54; Lyal Douglas 18:35; Jesse Littlehales 19:25; Rob Wendel 20:07;
Male 20
4km: Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 12:08; Thomas Short 13:08; Rhodri Whelan 13:39;
Male 18
4km: Brodie Batt 12:14; Asher Knuckey 13:13; Zander Botha 14:03
Male 14
4km: Jett Hollingsworth 13:30;
DVAC TEAM RESULTS
FEMALE RESULTS
Female Open: 15km: (Field of 131)
FOpen:Division 2: (4 member team): Poppy Scot-Dalgleish 53:53; Sarah Leeming 1:02:54; Shania Murray 1:03:11; Alana Barnes 1:05:42;
Place: 1st/11 teams: Score: 133(4)4, 38, 39, 52Ladder Pts: 12
FOpen:Division 4: (3 member team): Alison Knuckey 1:05:45; Mikaela Gray 1:07:41; Ella Littlehales 1:09:04;
Place: 2nd/5 teams: Score: 185(3)54, 63, 68Ladder Pts: 11
FOpen:Division 3: (3 member team): Kate Ryan 1:14:41; Lily Barnes 1:20:02; Jo Moxon 1:30:29;
Place: 2nd/4 teams: Score: 300(3)89, 63, 68Ladder Pts: 10
F Open Short Course: (3 member team):4km: Jesse Mayne 14:17; Debbie McKenzie 19:09; Michelle King 21:00; (Field of 25)
Place: 2nd/13 teams: Score: 27(3)1, 11, 15 Ladder Pts: 9
F Open Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: Sarah Papadopoulos 22:30; Elyse Littlejohn 25:05;(Field of 25)
Place: 6th/13 teams: Score: 41(2)18, 23Ladder Pts: 5
F40+: (3 member team): 15km: (Field of 45): Alison Knuckey 1:05:45; Kate Ryan 1:14:41; Jo Moxon 1:30:29;(Field of 45)
Place: 5th/24 teams: Score: 81(3)12, 28, 41Ladder Pts: 6
F50+: (3 member team): 15km:
Jo Moxon 1:30:29;(Field of 22)
Place: 11th/12 teams: Score: 19(1)19Ladder Pts: -
F60+: (3 member team): 15km:
Jo Moxon 1:30:29; (Field of 9)
Place:6th/6 teams: Score: 7(1)7Ladder Pts: 5
F 40+ Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 17)
Debbie McKenzie 19:09; Michelle King 21:00;
Place: 4th/9 teams: Score: 19(2)8, 11 Ladder Pts: 7
F 50+ Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 13)
Debbie McKenzie 19:09; Michelle King 21:00;
Place: 4th/7 teams: Score: 143(2)5, 8 Ladder Pts: 7
F 60+ Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 7)
Michelle King 21:00;
Place: 4th/5 teams: Score: 3(1)3Ladder Pts: 7
Female 18: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 10)
Madeleine Arvaji 14:39; Isabella Napoletano 15:14; Zoey Ryan 17:07;
Place: 1st/7 teams: Score: 14 (3)2, 5, 7Ladder Pts: 11
Female 16: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 13)
4km: Sanna Kersten 16:45;
Place: 9th/10 teams: Score: 12 (1)12Ladder Pts: 2
MALE RESULTS
Male Open
MOpen:Division 2: (6 member team): 15km: (Field of 356)
Lachlan Deller 53:53; Lucas Camuncoli 56:03; Joel Imbriano 56:35; Dylan Littlejohn 57:17; Craig Cassidy 59:16; Rory McPhillips 1:06:42;
Place: 2nd/14 teams: Score: 444(6)26, 53, 65, 68, 81, 113: Ladder Pts: 13
MOpen:Division 4: (5 member team): 15km: (Field of 346)
Scott Barnes 1:08:39; Damien Clifford 1:20:49;
Place:2nd/12 teams: Score: 698(4)159, 170, 173, 196: Ladder Pts: 16
M Open: Short Course: (3 member team): 4km (Field of 33)
Jordan Rudd 14:12; Ross McDonald 16:08; Andrew McKenzie 16:54;
Place: 1st/20 teams: Score 26(3)4, 9, 13:Ladder Pts: 11
M Open: Short Course: (3 member team): 4km (Field of 33)
Lyal Douglas 18:35; Jesse Littlehales 19:25; Rob Wendel 20:07;
Place: 4th/20 teams: Score 68(3)19, 21, 28:Ladder Pts: 7
Men 40+: (3 member team): 15km: Field of 127
Dylan Littlejohn 57:17; Craig Cassidy 59:16; Rory McPhillips 1:06:42;
Place: 5th/52 teams: Score: 77(3)15, 23, 39: Ladder Pts: 1
Men 40+: (3 member team): 15km: Field of 124
Scott Barnes 1:08:39; Damien Clifford 1:20:49;
Place: 41st/54 teams: Score: 212(2)92, 120: Ladder Pts: -
Men 50+: (3 member team): 15km: Field of 83
Craig Cassidy 59:16; Rory McPhillips 1:06:42; Scott Barnes 1:08:39;
Place 13th/39 teams: 139(3)11, 51, 77
M 40+ Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: Field of 25
Ross McDonald 16:08; Andrew McKenzie 16:54; Lyal Douglas 18:35;
Place: 1st/16 teams: Score: 22(3)4, 6, 12: Ladder Pts: 11
M50+ Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: Field of 23
Ross McDonald 16:08; Andrew McKenzie 16:54; Lyal Douglas 18:35;
Place: 1st/14 teams: Score: 16(3)2, 4, 10: Ladder Pts: - 11
50+ Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: Field of 23
Rob Wendel 20:07;
Place: 10th/14 teams: Score: 17(1)17: Ladder Pts: 1
60+ Short Course: (3 member team): 4km: Field of 14
Andrew McKenzie 25:32; Martin Murray 28:39; Rob Wendel 28:48;
Place: 1st/10 teams: Score: 12(3)2, 4, 6: Ladder Pts: 11
Lyal Douglas 28:54;
Place: 6th/10 teams: Score: 7(1)7: Ladder Pts: 5
Male U20: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 17)
Ethan Armstrong-Bourne 12:08; Thomas Short 13:08; Rhodri Whelan 13:39;
Place: 1st/9 teams: Score 23:(3)3, 7, 13:Ladder Pts: 11
Male U18: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 15)
Brodie Batt 12:14; Asher Knuckey 13:13; Zander Botha 14:03
Place: 1st/11 teams: Score: 26(3)3, 9, 14:Ladder Pts: 11
Male U14: (3 member team): 4km: (Field of 15)
Jett Hollingsworth 13:30;
Place: 6th/10 teams: Score: 3(1)3:Ladder Pts: 5
(Max Balchin)
