Borough star leads MVA award race

EAGLEHAWK’S Cameron Smith will strive to increase his lead in the race for the Most Valuable Athlete award in Saturday’s ninth round of Athletics Victoria Shield League field and track action.

Smith has scored 10,659 points to be 76 clear of his nearest rival.

The versatility of the second-year competitor is a key factor in his and the club’s success in premier division.

Under the AVSL format the points from an athletes best three events, plus a relay, are added to their MVA tally and team score.

AVSL’s top 100 in the MVA includes Eaglehawk’s Terry Hicks 10,134 points, Jorja Morrison 8932, Olivia Graham 7968, Shannon Storey 7857, Isabella Noonan 7769, Dave Chisholm 7732, Cooper Richardson 7689, Abbey Hromenko 7376, Tim Sullivan 7299 and Giselle Hattingh 7280.

In Premier division, Diamond Valley leads on 84 from Essendon on 74; Eaglehawk with 70, Glenhuntly on 59, Western Athletics at 57, Box Hill with 47 and Doncaster on 46.

Top five qualify for play-offs on 18 and 25 March 18.

Second in the latest round South Bendigo in which it used its Powerplay for double points and sits fourth in division two on 59 behind Mentone on 74, Wendouree with 71 and Nunawading on 67.

Stars in the Bloods run are Kai Norton with 10,134 points to be seventh in the MVA, Joan Self on 8683 and Carol Coad with 7398.

Leading points scorers for Bendigo Harriers are Geoff Shaw 8349, Neil Shaw 7918, Peter Clarke 7815, Josh Evans 7492 and Jake Gavriliadis 7297.

In division five, Bendigo University sit sixth on 55 points as Old Xaverians 105, Maccabi 85, Richmond 73, Deakin 66 and and South Coast 62, lead the way.

Saturday’s action at the Bendigo Regional Athletics Complex in Retreat Road, Flora Hill begins with distance hurdles at 1.30pm.