NEWS

Weekly Wrap November 22nd 2023

5 rounds down and 7 to go in the AVSL 23/24 season! Numbers were down last weekend despite the program being held on home soil.

Nevertheless, there were still a number of standout performances. Essendon finished 4th on the Premiers ladder but hopefully, we finish strong and push ourselves into contention as the season progresses.

Our highest ranking athlete on the MVA ladder was the ever-consistent, Mel Foster (F45) at no.15, but we had a few athletes with 500+ point events including:

  • Ebuka Okpala (MOP) scored 499 points in the Triple with a mighty jump of 14.88m
  • Kevin Healy (M20) continues his incredible form with another huge Hammer hurl of 52.70m for 511 points
  • Josh Djatschenko (M16) continues to dominate in the 200m, with a speedy 22.55 and an outstanding 521 points
  • Mighty Molly Bremner (F14) ran a 7:27.1 in the 2000 Steeple to achieve a massive 547 points
  • Special mention to Kim Walsh (F50) with a 495 point throw in the Shot with a massive 9.94m!

Congratulations on these incredible performances.

1000+ point scorers

  • Mel Foster (F45) 1335 points
  • Macca Leith (M18) 1235 points
  • Khushnoor Rangi (F18) 1199 points
  • Kim Walsh (F50) 1179 points
  • Kristian Lakusa (M50) 1149 points

Some other notable performances came from Essendon Coach, Mark Carey’s squad:

  • Jack Downey, 12yo (M14) in his first year in seniors, ran a blistering 2000 Steeple to obliterate the AE Club record for U13. boys by 98 seconds with an incredible 7:12.9!
  • Xavier Walsh, also 12yo, ran a speedy 2:15.10 in his 800 to smash his previous PB and book himself a ticket to Adelaide for the. Australian T&F Champs next April!
  • The super consistent, Jonty Neethling also clocked a magnificent 6:06, 4-second PB in his 2000 Steeple.

Well done boys and congratulations to Mark on his fantastic efforts to coach his athletes to these heights.

We had five of our guys head to Lakeside last Thursday night to contest the 5k champs. Our superstar, Charles Barrett won the U20 race with 14:42.74 and Jonty Neethling and James Cruse took out 12th and 14th place respectively in the same race.

Ty Davis ran a brave 9th in the Brace with 15:04.43 and Ben Rowse finished 17th in the last race of the program, 16:38.02.

Excellent results, particularly to Charles and a big well done from all of us!

AV’s specialist meets are up and running for the season with the second Rare Air (High Jump) comp taking place on the same night as the 5000m Champs.

We had 3 of our junior girls F16 competing, with a highly credible equal second place from Armani Mauriohooho and Sasha Jurson, both clearing the 1.56m bar. Ella Leith finished 5th on 1.51m.

Excellent work girls and a nice little hit out before National All Schools in Perth starting on 9 December.

We have worked hard amongst our team managers to put some fantastic Essendon relay teams together to contest this weekend’s States at Doncaster.

Our athletes are ready to bring their best this Saturday so please come along and support the Club, the teams and the athletes in their quest to bring home some State medals!! Our banner will be waving proudly on the front straight so don your Essendon team kit and comedown to cheer loudly!!

As always, helpers are always needed and we have 3 one-hour time slots to fill with duty being at the relay crossover for the 4×1500 at the start of the day. 10 am has been filled, but we need 2 more generous helpers to put their hands up at 11 am and 12 pm. Please log into your helper app and pop your name down if you can assist.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL ATHLETES THIS WEEKEND!!

Photo of Athletics Essendon competitors at the 2023 AV Relay Champs

There are still some vouchers worth $200 available to promote the ‘Get Active Kids’ campaign.

Get in quick as applications for a voucher close when the funding allocation has been exhausted. Victorian families qualify if they hold a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card and the $200 is aimed at assisting with the cost of their child’s sport or active recreation activities.

Apply now at www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers


REACH OUT

We would love to see snaps of our athletes in action! Please share your photos with us by sending them to secretary@athleticsessendon.org.au.

Otherwise don’t hesitate to reach out if there is anything we missed, by sending our secretary Rebecca an email at secretary@athleticsessendon.org.au.