League action under lights

ATHLETICS Bendigo Region will run another twilight meet this Saturday when round eight in the Athletics Victoria Shield League is run at the Flora Hill complex.

Field and track action at the Retreat Road venue will start at 5.30pm and include events in the hammer, discus, high jump and long jump.

First of the track events are distance hurdles at 6pm.

A 1500 or 3000-metre walk at 6.30pm will be followed by 200, 800, 3000-metre runs or 2000-metre steeplechase.

The program also includes a non-scoring 100-metre sprint and 4 x 400-metre relay.

Athletes will be vying for personal bests and also to rack up Shield League points.

Eaglehawk starts a new year nine points clear of Diamond Valley in the premier division title race.

The Hawks have used their PowerPlay in which they doubled their points tally from their designated round, but Diamond Valley and Essendon are yet do so.

A closely fought contest in division two is led by South Bendigo with 58 points, from Chilwell on 51, Keilor St Bernards at 48, and Nunawading with 46.

Round seven was Bendigo Harriers best of the season as it strives to climb out of relegation zone.

In division five it’s Old Scotch leading the way on 95 points and a chasing pack of Whittlesea on 76, South Coast at 68, and Bendigo University on 64, will all yet to use their PowerPlay.

Top three earn promotion for next season.

Bendigo Region features prominently in the Most Valuable Athlete standings where Eaglehawk’s Dave Chisholm is fifth on 9109 points.

Also in top form are Hawks’ clubmates Daniel Chisholm, 8322, 15th; Jorja Morrison, 8078, 25th; and Cameron Greenwood, 7377, 40th.

A talented South Bendigo squad includes Carol Coad, 8506, 9th; Kai Norton, 8117, 22nd, and Rhys Hansen, 7702, 31st.

Neil Shaw’s score of 7354 has him in 41st place and best of the Bendigo Harriers.