Athletes build up for major events

ALTHOUGH there’s no points to be won, Athletics Bendigo Region’s field and track stars will be aiming for fast times, high leaps and big throws at Saturday’s meet in Flora Hill.

The non-AVSL round at the Retreat Road complex will play a crucial role in the build-up to next month’s Athletics Victoria championships and AVSL play-offs.

Several veterans from Bendigo clubs will be bound for Doncaster to contest this weekend’s Victorian Masters championships.

Action at Flora Hill on Saturday starts with hammer at 1pm.

First-up on the track will be distance hurdles from 1.30pm. Other events are 1500 or 3000-metre walk, and the 200, 800, 100, and 3000-metre runs.

There will be several flights of discus, high jump, and long jump.

The 10th and last of the preliminary rounds in this season’s AVSL to be run in Bendigo will be on Friday, 17 February.

The twilight meeting will start at 6.30pm at the Retreat Road complex.

After many outstanding performances at the Steigen Victoria Country titles run at John Landy Field in Geelong on the Australia Day weekend, Bendigo will be well-represented at AV’s state championships.

Many of the best from country and metropolitan clubs will do battle at South Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium.

State titles for the under-14 to under-18 age groups will be run between 24 to 26 February.

The following weekend it’s championship action for the open and under-20 brackets.

Big finale to the track and field season for many will be the Athletics Victoria Shield League play-offs taking place on 18 and 25 March.

Top five in each division clash for Shield honours as bottom five strive to avoid relegation.

At one round to go, Eaglehawk and South Bendigo are in the top five of premier and division two respectively as Bendigo Harriers and University fight to climb the ladder.