Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics

Lake Dewar was the venue for Week 13 of Centre Cross Country competition. This was a final hit out for athletes prior to the Region Cross Country Carnival this weekend.

Seventy-five athletes competed on a tough, undulating course, set amongst the YMCA Discovery campgrounds.

A field of 20 competitors competed in the combined Under 9/10 1.5km event. Overall winner Joshua Askew (BM) stamped his dominance on the race and is in top form leading into the upcoming major events; as is Anni Clarke, whose confidence has grown this season and if runs to form should see her rewarded with a Region medal. Under 9 athletes Auden Sundqvist and Lyla Clark, who both recorded wins in their age-groups this week, will also be competitive at Region, with an excellent base season under their belt.

The Under 11 and 12 athletes completed 2 laps of a 1km course. Zeke Horne crossed the finish line in 1st place with teammate Logan Simons claiming 2nd place for the Under 11 boys while Iyla Robinson, placing 1st for the girls, is running into some great form and will be vying for a podium finish at Region. Meanwhile, Melton’s Ella Preddy claimed the points for the Under 12 girls and Elijah Sundqvist held on for the win for the boys.

Jude Brody-Wall was a comfortable winner in the Under 6 500m, ahead of Melton’s Sahib Cheema and Jack Ainsworth, while Olivia Anikeev (Melt) claimed the win for the girls with only 2 seconds separating 2nd and 3rd place runners, Millicent Johansen and Scarlett Tatchell.

The Open Age athletes completed 3 laps of the 1km course. Athletes found the course quite challenging, but it was Melton’s Jujhar Tamber who was once again dominant, recording his ninth win for the season.

The race of the day saw 25 athletes toe the line in the Under 7 & 8 1km event. After a lot of jostling on the start line athletes headed out through the bush and across the back of the camp grounds as the field began to spread out. An uphill finish saw Melton’s Fletcher Reid (Under 8) show his strength in the closing stages and claim a strong win with George Jacobsen and Atlas Ferreira, 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Olivia Callister (Gisborne), Emmy Foley and Elouise Evans claimed the top 3 places for the Under 8 girls. In the Under 7 age group, Chayse Johnson (Melt) claimed the win ahead of 2nd place Angus Jacobson, who after a fall at the start put in a courageous race, with Saatvik Dwarampudi in a sprint finish placed 3rd.

The Centre will be represented by the following athletes at the Region Cross Country Carnival to be held at Bacchus Marsh Grammar Staughton campus – Joshua Askew, Lyla & Miller Clark, Anni Clarke, Evelyn Grant, Zeke Horne, Emilia & Nicholas Ibrahim, Harry Johansen, Patrick Lovett, Angus Norman, Iyla Robinson, Lachlan Simons, Zara Slater, Auden Sundqvist, Mitchell Tung, Liam Way and Sam White.