Bendigo chips in to help rivals

ATHLETICS Bendigo Region has invited Ballarat’s athletes to head east for this Saturday’s third round of Shield League field and track action at the Retreat Road complex in Flora Hill.

Entry numbers for this meet are likely to be above 150 as Ballarat’s Llanberris Reserve is closed for an upgrade.

They are long-time rivals in many sports and on the Goldfields, but Bendigo and Ballarat will team up for this athletics competition.

Action begins at 1.30pm and includes sprint hurdles, 1500 or 3000-metre walk, 100 and 400 metre sprints, 1500- metre run, 4 x 200- metre relay, 2000 or 3000m steeplechases.

There will be various flights of shot put, javelin and triple jump and pole vault will also be on.

After such a strong start to the season, Eaglehawk will be aiming for another top-three finish in premier division.

The Hawks will go head-to-head with Wendouree this round on Bendigo’s turf.

In-form athletes for the Hawks include David Chisholm, Cameron Greenwood, Jessica Grigson, Jasmin Hurst, Jorja Morrison, Catherine Monahan, Lincoln Norris, William Beaton and Cooper Richardson.

South Bendigo has also shone in the opening two rounds to be first and second in the division two standings.

Athletes to watch in the red and white include Rhys Hansen, Carol Coad, Kai Norton and Mia Schodde.

The Bloods also had Frank Barr, who at 93-years-young broke discus and hammer records last round.

Bendigo Harriers will be determined to climb the division two standings.

The form of Jake Gavriliadis, Connor and Peter Clarke, Neil Shaw, Rebecca Soulsbury, and Caitlin, Eliza and Josh Evans will have a major bearing on the team’s tally.

Although it was represented by just three athletes, Bendigo University’s tally of 1527 earned fourth place in division five as Whittlesea on 7543, and Old Scotch with 5218, led the way last round.

University Pride had Mitch Whitham and David Lonsdale run well on the track, and the versatile Ross Douglas tackle various disciplines.

The Ballarat-based clubs are Ballarat Harriers, Ballarat YCW, Eureka, and Wendouree.

Saturday’s athletics action in Bendigo starts at 8.15am when hundreds take to the field and track to have a go at Little Athletics.