Weekend Two of the Victorian Track & Field Championships have finished, and Ballarat have come away with 22 Gold Medals across the two weekends! All four clubs sent representatives down to Melbourne to compete against the best in the state with many athletes shining brightly and earning themselves a spot at Australian Nationals in next month.
Key highlights included Eureka Athletics Club member Alyssa Benbow receiving FOUR Gold Medals in the U16 Women’s category across Shot Put, Hammer, Javelin and Discus. Her 40.52m throw in the Discus is her personal best and places her as one of the best young talents in Australia.
Veteran runner Kelly Ruddick has completed the 5000m Walk in a time of 22:47.17 which currently breaks the World Masters Athletics record in the 45+ Women category that’s she already currently holds. We will need to wait on formal verification from World Masters Athletics, but she received no red cards on the day and finished within the record time.
Ballarat walkers were again dominant with Fraser Saunder and Alanna Peart winning gold in the 5000m Walk for Ballarat YCW Harriers with Jemma Peart finishing just outside the podium in a very talented Open Women’s 5000m Walk field.
The U17 age group saw various winners across the State Championships. Wendouree Athletics Club members Archie Caldow and Zac Grainger won TWO Gold Medals each with Caldow dominating the 800m & 1500m field and Grainger winning gold in the 2000m Steeple and 400m Hurdles. We also saw Daisy Sudholz from Eureka win gold in both the 1500m & 3000m events in the U17 Women’s category.
Ballarat Harriers member Grace Kelly had a good championship winning gold in both the 100m & 200m events in the Women’s U17 category, fellow Harrier’s member Armarni Anderson also won gold in the 100m and a bronze in the 200m within the U16 Women.
Eureka Athletics Club member Caitlyn Sharp rounded out the impressive performance with TWO Gold Medals and a Silver within the Women’s AMB field in the second weekend.
Thank you to all Ballarat officials who went down to Melbourne to ensure the event could run smoothly, we really appreciate all the effort that gets put in to ensure the athletes are given every opportunity. Shout out to all club helpers who also put up their hand to help.
