Hawks eye another big round

AFTER ruling the premier division standings last Saturday, Eaglehawk will be again aiming to soar high in the ranking when the fifth round of Athletics Victoria Shield League is run in Bendigo this Saturday.

The Hawks won a closely fought battle with Diamond Valley to score most points when AVSL resumed last Saturday at the Flora Hill complex.

Both the Borough and Valley employed the PowerPlay which they doubled their points tally from the afternoon’s track and field action.

A top-five finish at season end will ensure Eaglehawk is in the play-off to determine the final rankings instead of fighting to avoid relegation from the premier bracket.

The Hawks are in the elite group of AVSL against the likes of metropolitan powers Essendon, Glenhuntly and Western Athletics.

Last season the Two Blues reached the AVSL play-offs at Lakeside in South Melbourne.

This Saturday’s action at the home of Athletics Bendigo in Retreat Road starts with hammer at 1pm.

First of the track events will be distance hurdles of 400, 300 or 200 meters, followed by 1500-metre or 3000-metre walk.

Other events to be run are 200 meters, 800 meters, 2000 meters and the 3000-metre steeplechase.

Non-AVSL scoring events will be 100-metre sprint, and a relay.

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

Key athletes in Eaglehawk’s squad include William Beaton, Kathryn Heagney, Jorja Morrison, Cooper Richardson, Terry Hicks, Abbey Hromenko, Daniel and Dave Chisholm, Giselle Hattingh, Dude Kelly, Angus McKindlay, and triple Paralympian Tim Sullivan.

Division two includes Bendigo Harriers up against South Bendigo.

A talented Harriers’ squad includes Eliza Coutts, Peter and Connor Clarke, Jackson Eadon, Rebecca Soulsby, Jake Gavriliadis, Anne Buckley, Hailey Stubbs, Geoff Shaw, Ian Wellard, Merlin Tzaros, and Caitlin, Eliza and Josh Evans.

South Bendigo will look for high-scoring performances from the likes of Kai Norton, Rhys Hansen, Emma Berg, Joan Self, Genevieve Nihill, Oliver Muggleton, Taryn Furletti, Allie and Belle Guillou.

Despite fielding a team of three, University scored 1471 points to be seventh in division five last round as Andrea Smith, Craig Green and James Trew represented Pride.