Athletes have plenty to play for

THERE’S still plenty to play for as many athletes contest Saturday’s finale to Athletics Victoria Shield League field and track season at Bendigo’s Lar Birpa complex in Flora Hill.

Bendigo Harriers’ Jenna Gaskell and Eaglehawk’s Cat Monahan start the round in second and fourth place in the race for the competition’s Most Valuable Athlete award.

It’s been a superb season by the talented all-rounders.

Gaskell has scored 11,373 points in a race led by Thomas McGough from Mornington Peninsula on 11,711 points.

Last season’s MVA, Monahan has racked up 10,714 points and could overtake Tilly Morton from Knox who is in 11,057 and third in the race.

Action at the Retreat Road complex starts at 1pm when the first of the hammers is thrown.

Other field disciplines across the afternoon will be discus, high jump and long jump.

First of the track events at 1.30pm will be distance hurdles.

Athletes will also chase points in the 200m, 800m, 3000m or 5000m run.

A non-scoring 1500m or 3000m walk, and 100m dash are also on the program.

Eaglehawk is second in the Premier division race after Diamond Valley surged to the top last Saturday.

The Hawks are on 91 points and the Diamonds on 91.

It’s been an incredible run by Eaglehawk which is reigning champion in premier division and outgunned metropolitan powers Essendon and Glenhuntly.

South Bendigo starts the round in 10^th place on the premier ladder and facing relegation.

In division three, Bendigo Harriers has scored 64 points to be third in a race led by Ballarat YCW, 98; and Mornington, 77.

Echuca Moama will be striving to jump above Old Scotch to the fourth rung in division four.

The team from the border is a point behind the Old Scotch squad.

In a summer where it was Victoria Country champion once again, Eaglehawk’s strength and versatility is shown by the number of members who feature in the top 100 of the Most Valuable Athlete standings.

Athletes to watch for the Two Blues include Dave Chisholm, 12^th in the MVA race on 9560 points; Bella Noonan, 15^th on 9429; Terry Hicks, 25^th on 9002; Hugh Richard, 42^nd on 8557; and Alyssa Beaton, 49^th on 8421; and Emily Harris, 50^th on 8343.

The Hawks’ squad includes Cameron Greenwood, Cooper Richardson, .Alexis Weekly, and four-time Paralympian Tim Sullivan.

Leading scorers for South Bendigo’s squad are Joan Self, 23^rd on 9218 points; and Carol Coad, 29^th on 8792.

Some of the Bloods’ best across the season include Debby Kirne, Luke Edgley, Kai Norton, Jasper Seymour, Geneva Moon, and Ollie Muggleton.

Leading points-scorers for Bendigo Harriers are Neil Shaw, 51^st on 8334; Rebecca Soulsby, 62^nd on 8155; and Jake Gavriliadis, 74^th on  7896.

The Harriers’ squad includes Geoff Jordan, Anne Buckley, Jack Metherell, Monique Gavriliadis, Hunter Gill, and Caitlin and Eliza Evans.

Tahlia Blight, Harrison Sly, Phoenix Wise, Georgina Farrell, and Hannah, Kate and Quinn Downward have been among the athletes to represent Echuca Moama in its first AVSL season.