Borough fights to stay second

EAGLEHAWK will fight to stay in second place on the Premier league ladder in Saturday’s seventh round of Athletics Victoria Shield League field and track action in Bendigo.

The Hawks have been in superb form on the Retreat Road complex in Flora Hill.

Going into the final round before the break for Christmas and New Year, Eaglehawk has scored 45 points to be second in the Premier standings behind Diamond Valley on 57.

The Hawks and Valley have used their PowerPlay in which clubs double their points from their nominated round.

Reigning premier, Essendon is on 45 points and yet to use its PowerPlay.

There’s plenty to compete for as the top five qualify for play-offs weekends on 18 and 25 March and the bottom five in the top four divisions will be in a promotion-relegation phase.

A key to Eaglehawk’s strength is the number of competitors, regularly above 40, and ability to contest many events.

Under the AVSL format, points from an athlete’s top three events are added to the team score.

Competition is heating up in division two where South Bendigo climbed to fifth place on 29 points after a strong performance in the sixth round.

The Bloods will be working hard to stay clear of Mornington on 24, Ballarat Harriers on 23 and Bendigo Harriers on 21.

Although it has fielded a small team each round, Bendigo University has done well to be on 38 points in division five.

Uni Pride has scored 8311 points and leads South Coast, also on 38, by 297.

Saturday’s track action at Flora Hill starts with distance hurdles of 400, 300 or 200 metres at 1.30pm.

Athletes will also be chasing crucial points, personal bests or season-best times in the 200, 800, 2000 or 3000-metre steeple.

First event of the afternoon will be the hammer from 1pm.

Flights of discus, high jump and long jump will be on from 1.30pm.

Non-AVSL scoring events are the 1500 or 3000-metre walk, 100-meter sprint, and relay.

Ladders for AVSL are yet to be fully complete as Geelong’s washed out second round was re-scheduled to 7 January at Landy Field.