Athletes take onthe best in Victoria

ATHLETICS Bendigo Region is well-represented across this weekend’s start to Athletics Victoria’s state field and track championships at South Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium.

All four Bendigo clubs – Bendigo Harriers, Eaglehawk, South Bendigo and University – have competitors in a range of disciplines and age groups.

Action at the South Melbourne Physio-backed championships starts at 5pm today and continues from 9.30am on Saturday and Sunday.

Among the leading medal contenders are four-time national women’s open shot put champion Emma Berg from South Bendigo, who recently starred at the Australian short track championships in Sydney.

Bloods clubmates Kai Norton and Jasper Seymour will be throwing far in the under-17 discus and hammer and shot put.

Norton will contest the 100 metres and javelin in an age group where Eaglehawk’s Cooper Richardson (100 metres and 200 metres) and Echuca-Moama’s Harrison Sly (100 metres, 110 metres, 400-metres hurdles, long jump and triple jump) will chase a place on the podium.

In the 60-plus class, Eaglehawk’s Catherine Monahan will aim to continue a great run across the Shield League season when she races in the 100 and 400 metres.

Hawks clubmate Craig Graham will line up in the 60-plus hammer.

After a hat-trick of gold in the under-18 class at the Victoria Country titles at Lar Birpa in Bendigo, University’s Avery McDermid will be one to watch in the 800-metre and 1500-metre finals.

In the pole vault will be South Bendigo clubmates Rhys Hansen (under-18) and Jordyn Lewis, (under-15) vying for gold.

South Bendigo’s Chelsea Tickell is likely to be at or near the front of the under-17 800 and 1500 metres.

Also in action will be Bendigo Harriers’ Jack Denton, Alexandra Letson, Daniel Noden and Hailey Stubbs; South Bendigo’s Luke Edgley, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Amber Fox, Thomas McArthur, Aiden Nolen, Emma Orme, Jemma Norton and Charlie Sullivan.

Eaglehawk’s squad includes Sarah Crowley, Lewis McIntosh, Charlise and Tate McQueen, Jorja Morrison, Graeme and Isabella Noonan, Nate Ralton, Kyah Spiteri, Seb Vinnicombe, Fletch Watchman and Kate Wilson.

University has Kade Hutchinson, Abbey Reid and Milanke Haasbroek to contest a variety of distance runs.

Tahlia Blight, Benji Carfoot, Hannah Downward and Scarlett Southern will represent Echuca-Moama.