WANDIN PARK
Amelia is continuing the form that, last year gave her the title of outstanding AV Junior. A great run by Mitch prior to his departure to Europe for 5KM efforts. Congratulations on their wins at Wandin Park, and good luck to both for their races in Europe.
U18 Girls
1st Amelia Mazza-Downie
3rd Emma Files
7th Jennifer Mendes
Open Men
1st Mitchel Brown
FULL REPORT:
Athletics Essendon’s Mitchel Brown took out the Victorian 8km Cross Country Championships at Wandin Park on Saturday to lead his club’s open men to what is shaping as a decisive Round 2 victory in Athletics Victoria’s 2016 season of cross country and road racing (XCR’16).
In unusually warm conditions, Brown clocked 26min 41sec for the undulating course on the outskirts of the Yarra Ranges to beat home Doncaster’s Ben Ashkettle (26:48) and Geelong Region’s Nick Wightman (27:01) and take victory in the event for the first time since 2013.
However, it was strong support from Brown’s club mates that ensured Essendon got the job done in the team stakes, with Michael Marantelli (24th), Toby O’Brien (35th), Nick Smith (55th), Jeremy Drake (63rd) and Damien Bruneau (69th) all turning in solid performances.
While there are still some results to be finalised, Essendon looks set to take victory in Division 2 ahead of Western Athletics, which will see the two clubs draw level on points at the top of the table after two rounds following Western Athletics’ narrow victory at the season-opening Jells Park relays.
The result marks a stark turnaround from Essendon’s dismal showing at the same event last year and bodes well for the club’s campaign to claim the Division 2 premiership and regain a place in Premier Division in 2017.
Amelia Mazza-Downie provided Essendon’s other big individual highlight for the day, the World Junior Championships-bound athlete clocking an even 12min to take out the under 18 girls’ 3km cross country, with teammate Emma Files taking bronze in 12:18.
The XCR’16 season continues on Saturday, May 21 at Cruden Farm in Langwarrin.
