STATE RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Doncaster Newsletter

State Relay Championships – 25/11/2023

Held on home soil, Doncaster shone at Saturday’s relay Championships. Across all age groups, there were a total of 26 complete teams.  From just the one win last year, we managed two this year.  There were also numerous placings; 1 Silver and 5 Bronze, with the Masters teams shining.  It was a very successful day despite tough competition.    

It was a great effort from all who participated; Club spirit on show!  The day had a great vibe!  There were also a number of volunteers making the day a success; Darryl & Sue Kilmartin, Andrew Parrott, Allan Watson, David Vaughan, Laura & Campbell McLennan, Kim Peak, Nathan Down, and our Team Managers;  Matt Christie and Campbell McLennan. The BBQ was sizzling away to serve a larger, enthusiastic, and sometimes vocal crowd.  We thank these volunteers sincerely.    

To highlight individual athletes or teams is a difficult job!  There were some very busy athletes competing in 3 events (including preliminaries) over the course of the day.  The morning was hot and humid for the 4 x 1500m athletes, but eased over the afternoon, and storms held off until late in the afternoon when the last event had been run and won.   

Our M40 4x100m and W40 4x400m teams reigned supreme – Gold and Gold!   There were also a couple of new Club Records among the Masters ranks.  Again among the Masters crew; Silver to our W40 4 x 100m, and a welcome to newcomer Melinda Davey-Uecker who added strength to the team.  The U14 Women’s 4 x 100m team achieved Bronze – April Kosta, Zoe Garden and Talise Botha very welcome newcomers to boost DAC!  The Men’s Open 4 x 1500m team were awarded a Bronze within a very competitive quality field of Victoria’s best middle-distance athletes!  Another classy combination was that of our U18 Men’s 4 x 400m team – Brodie Mierisch, Christian Zapris, Yishan Feng, and Lachlan Reynolds.  Yishan Feng is a very talented newcomer to DAC!  Other Bronze medals went to the W50+ 4 x 100m combination of Wendy Smith, Kim Peak, Allison Parrott, and Sue Kilmartin, and the M50+ 4 x 1500m combination of Mark Purser, John Curry, Jason Merrett, and Campbell Mclennan.  As the commentator nicely put it, “a combination of youth and maturity”.    

Many of our Junior athletes, fresh from their All Schools successes, made up fantastic relay combinations.  Shakira Harding (U17) joined the Open 4 x100m team, whilst sister, Jameson, played a big part in the U16 4 x 100m team.  Jameson was joined by Giselle Uecker and Teiva Levy in the ranks of U16 women, both enjoying early success during their first season at DAC.   The Kearney sisters, Madeleine and Lucy, were back in action over 4 x 800m, and the medley relay, with Eliza Chivers and newcomers; Olivia Collett, Mia Fernandez and Katrina Cheung.   Great to have you along Ladies!  Among the Men, Josh Ascar (U18) stepped up to Open Men’s competition, and Eamon Wright (a talented newcomer), both featured in the Open 4 x 1500m, and medley relays.  Newcomers, Maki Loukeris, Aiden Green, Matthew Friar and Hayden Lloyd took the other clubs to task in the Open sprint relays.  In the U18 and U16 Men’s relays, Jordan Swansborough, Kaedin Levy, Ashok Sinnadurai, Zachary Wong, Alfie Onley, Kamil Hegazi, and Thomas Steinman are all in their first season with DAC and displayed excellent running!  Fantastic performances from our newest members see the future of DAC in great hands!  (and feet!)  

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