Ringwood Athletic Club

We ventured out to a new course at St Anne's Vineyard this year for the first individual cross country event.  The St Anne's is between Bachus Marsh and Ballarat.  The course itself was very undulating with either up or down and not a lot of flat sections.  Not to mention the cow pats.  The rain also held off for pretty good weather all day.

Best place finisher was Lana Mooney 10th in the U20 womens race.  The Under 20 men finished the teams event in 5th with Scott Benedict just a wisker off breaking 15 minutes.  Our senior women came third in the 55-59 category.

Ben Reid	Lana Mooney	Mitch Graham
Ruby Crisp	Scott Benedict	Kathy Green
Lana Mooney	Mitch Graham (background)

• 
  The Australian Masters Championships were held in Perth and we were represented by Lavinia Petrie.  Lavinia not only won her four events but was also awarded:
  
  Highest Age Graded performance overall (800m and 1500m)
  Australian Female Middle Distance Athlete of the Year
  Runner Up for World Female Middle Distance Athlete of the Year
  Inducted into the Australian Masters Athletics Hall of Fame.
  
  

On a perfect sunny day the 2018 - 2019 Athletics season kicked off with the opening cross-country relays held at Jells Park.  A few PBs and some close times to last year for our runners.  Shannon McDade was the fastest for the womens team, whilst Scott Benedict led the U20 men and Josh Wright the U18 men.  Many thanks to our time keepers and officials and to Lana and Ruby for stepping into the senior team.  Welcome to new member Corey McNamara.

Jack Dalton became the latest Australian Representative for Ringwood, competing in the Commonwealth Games.  Jack produced a PB and new Club Record in the Hammer Final throwing 68.28m.  Jack finished 8th in a top class field, an outstanding effort.

If only all that gold was real we could all retire.  Well done to all of our senior athletes who competed over the weekend at the Vic Masters held at the Doncaster track.  A wet day 1 didn't dampen the gold rush.  Looks like some improved performances from last years Masters as well.

A little project for the editor will be to add in the Masters age groups onto our all time lists.

The National and Victorian Multi Event Champinships were held in conjunction with the Open Victorian Champs on the weekend at Lakeside.  The Victorian Multis were postponed due to extreme heat earlier in the season.  Team Haasbroek got to kill two birds with one stone and Paul had the quirk of competeting in two different age groups at the one time.

Due to the athletes competing in both National and State events our 4 athletes brought home 6 medals, 2 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze.

Gary Haasbroek not only broke his own U20 club record in the Decathlon he also created a new State record.  Gary finished 2nd in the National comp by 17 points and was a clear winner in the State comp.  Paul Haasbroek won the National U17 title but with the quirk of the age groups was second in the State U18 comp.  Isabella Sallee was second in the U14 State Pentahlon, which looks to be a new Club Record.  Noah Thorpe was third in the U14 State Pentathlon with an age (11yo) best for the Club.  Noah is still 11, turning 12 later this year.

In very good conditions over the weekend at Albert Park, Lakeside Stadium the Club had 14 competitors compete in 12 finals for 4 Gold, 2 Silver and 3 Bronze medals.

Michael Vassilopolous took gold in the Discus and bronze in the Shot.  Jack Dalton put out another big throw and a win in the Hammer.. Todd Hodgetts not only won his Para class in the Shot but also the Open Shot as well.  Lateisha Willis scored a sliver in the 100m Hurdles and a World Junior Qaulifier.  Also competeing way out of his age group, Ben Voogd took broze in the Open Hammer, fantastic effort.

Well done athletes, coaches and support staff.