Victorian Milers Club Meet 4

800m and 1 Mile (incorporating the Victorian Mile Championships).

Thursday, February 16th. 7:00pm.

Rawlinson Track, Melbourne University.

One of the few opportunities to race at home!  Come on out for some Championship racing at the Rawlinson.

Enter at www.vicmilers.com.

Middle distance running is set to make its historic return to the University of Melbourne’s Rawlinson Track more than fifty years after Merv Lincoln broke the 4 minute mile at the same venue.

The track will again host the 2012 Victorian Mile Championships on Thursday, February 16, as part of the Victorian Milers Club season.

Close to 200 athletes are expected to be out to impress the crowd and stake a claim for the state titles, competing in both 800 metre and one mile graded and paced races.

Melbourne University Athletics Club President Hamish Beaumont said that the Victorian Mile has a special place in the clubs history thanks largely to Merv Lincoln’s efforts in 1957.  “Lincoln, a two time Olympian and Melbourne University Athletics Club member, delighted the large crowd of students and athletics fans in March 1957 by running 3:58.9 for the mile on a newly laid cinders track at the University.

“Coached by the legendary Franz Stampfl, Lincoln was paced through the first three laps by future world record holder Ron Clarke and Frank Henegan, a life member of MUAC.”

“Henegan, still active within Melbourne University Athletics Club, will be present to watch the racing of the Championship.”

Melbourne University Athletics Club is a club with a tradition dating back to 1873.  It is a very active and vibrant club that encourages athletes of all abilities to strive for their best performances and have a lot of fun along the way.  Members have access to fantastic facilities and top level coaching.  Both men’s and women’s teams are entered in Athletics Victoria’s summer (track and field) and winter (road and cross country) competitions.

EVENT DETAILS

What: 2011 Victorian Mile Championships

Where: Rawlinson Track, Melbourne University

When: Thursday, 16^th February, 7:00pm

Contact: Hamish Beaumont (MUAC): president@muac.org.au

Tim Crosbie (VMC): tim@athsvic.org.au

High quality middle distance racing will be held at the Rawlinson Track at Melbourne University more than 50 years after Merv Lincoln made history by breaking the mythical 4 minute barrier for the mile on the track.  The 2012 Victorian Mile Championships, as part of Meet 4 of the Victorian Milers Club season will be held at the Rawlinson Track on Thursday, 16^th of February, 2012.  Lincoln, a two time Olympian and Melbourne University Athletics Club member, delighted the large crowd of students and athletics fans in March 1957 by running 3:58.9 for the mile on a newly laid cinders track at Melbourne University.  Coached by the legendary Franz Stampfl, Lincoln was paced through the first three laps by future world record holder Ron Clarke and Frank Henegan, a life member of MUAC.  Henegan, still active within Melbourne University Athletics Club,  will be present to watch the racing of the 2012 Victorian Mile Championship on Thursday, 16^th of February.

The current crop of athletes will be out to impress the crowd and claim a state title as the track and field competition builds towards the championship season. Athletes will race over 800m and 1 Mile in high quality graded and paced races focused on producing personal bests.  Racing starts at 7:00pm and will conclude by 9pm.  MUAC expects to field a large contingent of athletes eager to compete on their home track and in front of their home crowd.