ATHLETICS Bendigo Region\u2019s clubs kick off their Shield League campaign this Saturday at the Flora Hill field and track complex in Retreat Road.<\/p>\n
Action begins at 1.30pm with a series of disciplines to be run.<\/p>\n
Among them are sprint hurdles, 1500 or 3000-metre walk, 100, 1500, 3000 or 5000 and 400-metre runs, javelin, shot put, triple jump, and pole vault for a wide range of abilities and ages.<\/p>\n
Third in last season\u2019s race to be number one in premier division, Eaglehawk will again field a strong squad against metropolitan powers Diamond Valley and Athletics Essendon.<\/p>\n
In division two it will be South Bendigo and Bendigo Harriers vying for a top-two finish and promotion to premier class for the 2004-25 season.<\/p>\n
Among the stars for South Bendigo is Emma Berg, a triple national champion at shot put who hails from Swan Hill.<\/p>\n
An outstanding run by the 22-year-old across last season included gold at the nationals, state, and Victoria Country championships.<\/p>\n
Berg also headed to Saipan on the Northern Mariana Islands where she struck gold at the Oceania Cup.<\/p>\n
A personal best of 15.57 metres was achieved at an AV Throwers Meet run last March at Geelong\u2019s John Landy Field.<\/p>\n
The shot put champion\u2019s exploits have again put her in the running for Bendigo\u2019s Sports Star of the Year award.<\/p>\n
Among a tally of more than 50 clubs competing in AV Shield will be Bendigo University in division five.<\/p>\n
There will be 12 rounds of Shield League run at metro and country venues.<\/p>\n
Athletes can contest as many events as they want in Shield League, but it\u2019s the points from their three highest-scoring events, plus a relay, which will be added to the team\u2019s tally.<\/p>\n
As part of the build-up to the season, Athletics Bendigo ran a come \u2018n try day on the AFL grand final eve public holiday last Friday.<\/p>\n
Among the highlights was Frank Barr setting a new bar for the 90-plus class at shot put and discus.<\/p>\n
At 93-years-young, Barr put the shot to a mark of 3.33 metres and hurled the discus 7.84 meters.<\/p>\n
Waaia teenager Rhys Hansen who competes for South Bendigo cleared 3.80 metres at pole vault.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ATHLETICS Bendigo Region\u2019s clubs kick off their Shield League campaign this Saturday at the Flora Hill field and track complex in Retreat Road. Action begins at 1.30pm with a series of disciplines to be run. Among them are sprint hurdles, 1500 or 3000-metre walk, 100, 1500, 3000 or 5000 and 400-metre runs, javelin, shot put, […]<\/p>\n