Hawks fight to hold athletics crowns

EAGLEHAWK will fight to retain all three teams trophies at this weekend’s 78th edition of the Steigen-sponsored Victoria Country field and track championships.

Hundreds of athletes from country and metro clubs will be at Geelong’s Landy Field for the three-day meet which started on Thursday.

The Hawks have won the Margaret Saunders Country Cup five years in a row.

Bendigo Region clubs dominated on home turf in 2022 as the Hawks led the title race from Bendigo Harriers and South Bendigo.

Being at home is an advantage Chilwell and Geelong Guild will aim to capitalise on.

Major strength of the Eaglehawk squad is the number of athletes who compete in many events.

Key members of the Hawks’ line-up include Cameron Smith, Denise Snyder, Tim Sullivan, Abbey Hromenko, Olivia Graham, Terry Hicks, Jorja Morrison and Angus McKindlay.

The Hawks are also represented by many families in the famous Two Blue colours.

South’s leading contenders for gold include dual national shot-put champion Emma Berg, sprint ace Oliver Muggleton, pole vaulter Rhys Hansen and field star Kai Norton.

A highlight for the red and white will be Greg Hilson competing at his 38th country championships. Hilson’s first was in 1986 in Ballarat.

Bendigo Harriers put in a great effort last year and will look to the multi-talented Geoff Shaw, Jake Gavriliadis, Hailey Stubbs, Josh Evans, and distance runners Anne Buckley, Jamie Cook and Jackson Eadon to lead the way.

Although it’s fielding a small team, Bendigo University has Angus Macafee, Avery McDermid and Andrea Smith to run at various distances.

The Ex-Athletes Cup for leading women’s team, and David Kitt Memorial Trophy for the men’s teams challenge are also up for grabs.

Action on Friday starts at 8.30am and runs until past 8pm. Saturday’s meet begins at 9am for field and track disciplines.