Olympians inspire region’s rising stars

SUPERB performances at the Tokyo Olympics or on the footy field are a source of inspiration for many of central and northern Victoria’s sporting stars.

The scholarship recipients in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year award for 2021 have achieved great results in swimming, athletics, and AFL.

Not only do the rising stars receive cash to help their journey to the highest level possible, they are in the running for the Cyril Michelsen and Maxine Crouch trust fund awards.

Cyril Michelsen was one of the founding members of the Sports Star of the Year and long-time editor of the Bendigo Advertiser.

Maxine Crouch devoted many hours to lots of sports across the region and was a Sports Star of the Year committee member.

The scholarship intake in 2018 included Jenna Strauch who was ninth fastest in the 200-meter breaststroke at the Tokyo Olympics and first competed at Bendigo East Swimming Club which is Layla Day’s club.

Those in the running for this year’s awards include swim star Layla Day, who has earned some of Swimming Victoria’s most coveted awards the past two years.

In 2021, Layla won gold in eight individual finals and a relay gold at the Victoria Country titles.

The backstroke ace has clocked a time of 1:01.82 for the 100-meter distance.

Octavia di Donato has quickly made her mark on the footy field with Victoria Country, Bendigo Pioneers and Strathfieldsaye Storm.

Whether it was on ball or defence, Donato’s skill and work rate caught the attention of many at this year’s AFL national championships for under-17s and under-19s.

Donato earned the MVP award for Victoria Country in the under-17s clash with Victoria Metro.

She starred for Strathfieldsaye in the AFLCV women’s match against Kangaroo Flat last Sunday.

Distance runner Archie Reid, heptathlete Abbey Hromenko, and steeplechase ace Jayden Padgham are three of Athletics Bendigo’s best at under-21 level.

Some of Reid’s best runs have been at the Launceston Running Festival.

Last June, Archie ran the 10-kilometre in 29.22 seconds to be fifth overall and first in the under-21 class.

He also competed at Launceston in December 2020 and ran the half-marathon in 1:05.43 to be sixth overall.

The Moama-based athlete is a member of South Bendigo Athletics Club and played a key role in Bendigo leading division two in this year’s Athletics Victoria XCR series.

Reid will race the eight-kilometre at St Anne’s Winery in Myrniong this Saturday.

South Bendigo clubmate Abbey Hromenko achieved four personal bests in the under-20 heptathlon at this year’s national track and field titles in Sydney.

Hromenko won the Victorian under-20 title held in Bendigo.

Versatility is the key as the heptathlon involves 100-metre hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-metre sprint, long jump, javelin, and the 800 metres.

Hromenko is also starring in attack for the unbeaten Elmore in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition.

A dual scholarship recipient, Jayden Padgham struck gold in the under-17 3000-metre steeplechase at the 2021 national track and field championships.

The University Pride athlete charged to glory in 6:03.63 and has also starred across various distances on the track or cross-country.