State champs bring out best

THE Yarra Ranges Athletics competed at the State Little Athletics Cross Country Championships held on a tough course at Bundoora Park on Saturday. Twenty-six club athletes took the opportunity to compete against the best athletes in the state with outstanding results from all of them.
A sensational 5th place at the World Junior Athletics Championships by past club athlete Zak Patterson was the final piece of motivation required to bring out the competitive spirit in our future athletics stars. The highlight of the day was the third place team medal for our Under 15 girl’s team of Molly Dixon, Amy Veenendaal and Tammarah Brown.
This event will be the last event the girls can compete in as little athletes, a team medal was a fitting reward for their efforts over the past few years.
Other medals went to Kiara Flavel (1st U8 Girls), Madeline Laven (3rd U9 Girls), Georgia Laven (1st U11 Girls), Lily Peacock (2nd U12 Girls), James Laven (2nd U14 Boys) and our U13 Girls team of Lily Thompson, Lee Taylor and Rickylee Brown (3rd). Well done also to the other competing athletes. The club is extremely proud of all its members and their efforts throughout the day both in competing and supporting. Many of the fields had over 60 competitors making competition very tough.
Next week is the club Cross Country Championships at Morrison’s Reserve, Mount Evelyn. Events kick off at 8.45am for what is sure to be a great morning of cross country. Everyone is welcome, all you need is your runners, the barbecue will be on, too. Go to www.yarrarangesathletics.org.au for more information on upcoming
events, especially the Cockatoo Hills Challenge, and full results from the weekend.