Region’s stars shine at Lakeside

A FINALIST in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year and two of the 2023 scholarship intake shone at the Zatopek 10 field and track classic at Melbourne’s Lakeside Stadium.

The latest recipient of a scholarship and in contention for the Maxine Crouch Trust Fund, Chelsea Tickell broke her Bendigo residential record for the mile across the under-15, 16 and 18 age groups.

Tickell ran the Jamieson LAV under-16 mile of 1609 metres at the Zatopek 10 in 5:05.10 to claim third place.

Her previous best was 5:20.08 last February at Aberfeldie.

Another of the region’s rising stars in distance running, Avery McDermid ran the Hillardt LAV mile at Zatopek in 4:22.27.

The young gun from University Pride now holds the Bendigo residential record from under-16 to open and is in the running for the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund in Sports Star of the Year.

Previous record-holders for the mile were Jayden Padgham, 4:24.27 for under-17, 18 and open; and Logan Tickell, 4:24.81, under-16.

A joint winner for April this year, shot put champion Emma Berg was in top form at Lakeside.

A triple national champion, Berg teamed with dual Paralympian Todd Hodgetts in the shot put challenge at Zatopek 10.

Berg’s best of 15.97 metres and a mark of 14.28 metres by Hodgetts meant they had a combined tally of 30.25 to beat their nearest rivals by 21 centimetres.

Bendigo Harriers’ Nathan Stoate and South Bendigo’s Archie Reid ran the Zatopek 10,000 metres which doubled as the national championship in 29:42.10 and 29:43.21 to be 15th and 16th in the 22-runner field.

Meanwhile, Athletics Bendigo will run a non-AVSL field and track meeting this Saturday at the Retreat Road complex in Flora Hill from 1.30pm.

Events are sprint hurdles, 1500 or 3000- metre walk, 100 metres, mile, 400 metres, 3000 metres, medley relay, javelin, shot put, pole vault, triple jump.