AV season starts the run home

PLAY-OFFS to determine promotion and relegation for Athletics Victoria’s Shield League field and track action begin this Saturday.

Action at the Retreat Road complex in Flora Hill involves sprint hurdles, 100, 400, 1500-metre runs, 2000 or 3000-metre steeple, the 4 x 100-metre relay, shot put, javelin, long jump, and pole vault.

First events are on from 1.30pm.

Athletes can enter a maximum of four events from which three highest-scoring disciplines and a relay will be added to the club’s score.

In Premier division, Eaglehawk scored 87 points across the 10-leg preliminary series to be third behind Diamond Valley on 103 and Essendon on 102.

Key members of a powerful Eaglehawk squad include Cameron Smith who has scored 13,616 points to lead the race for the Most Valuable Athlete award.

Hawks’ coach and top veteran Terry Hicks is fifth in the MVA standings on 12,644 points.

Others to watch for the Two Blues include Dave Chisholm, Giselle Hattingh, Abbey Hromenko, Olivia Graham, Jorja Morrison, Isabella Noonan, Cooper Richardson, Shannon Storey, and multiple Paralympic representative and 10-time gold medallist Tim Sullivan.

Stars for the red and white include Emma Berg, Carol Coad, Kai Norton and Joan Self.

In division two, South Bendigo qualified in fourth place on 70 points.

The Bloods are up against Wendouree on 101, Mentone on 81, Nunawading on 75 and Mornington with 68.

Bendigo Harriers starts the play-offs in ninth place on 43 points and fighting to avoid relegation.

The Harriers are in a battle with Keilor St Bernards, Ballarat Harriers, Geelong Guild, and Sandringham.

Highest points scorers for the Harriers are Peter Clarke, Josh Evans, Jake Gavriladis, Neil Shaw and Eliza Evans.

Bendigo University has scored 70 points to be seventh in a division five race led by Old Xaverians, Maccabi and Deakin.