2015 AV Shield Final

MUAC descended on Lakeside Stadium on Saturday, 31st January for a monumental day of club track and field, the AV Shield Final. 12 hours of competition featuring 132 teams, 94 100m races, 61 400m races, 27 1500m races and more than 1500 competitors. With teams in both Womens and Mens Division 1, MUAC was one of only five clubs to be in contention for the elite premierships in Victoria’s biggest club track and field competition.

A program stretching across ten events, much was asked of competitors to represent their club. Al Bryant Smith, straight from night shift at the Royal Womens ran an impressive 1500m and backed it up with an impromptu 400m after an afternoon nap. The vaulting duo of Cath Macrae and Kath Iannello took maximum points in the Pole Vault, with Iannello making a hasty dash to fill the final spot in the 100m at short notice. Kaitlin Morgan, after a 100m and Long Jump returned to Lakeside late in the program to be part of the 4x100m relay team. Sarah McSweeney comfortably won the 3000m Steeplechase and Kate Scarlett took to the track in the 2000m walk as MUAC’s sole representative. Gwen Thornton and Gen Lawrence took to the field events with gusto, despite carrying injuries. The premiership was hard fought with Glenhuntly taking the title and less than 25 points separating 3rd through 6th.

MUAC Womens Division 1 AV Shield Final Team

Mate Zahtila got the Mens team off to a great start winning the Division 1 Javelin with his first throw of 55.80m. Also in the javelin were Aaron Page and Ben Cook who would complete 10 events between them. Simon Greig took the 100m victory with a run of 10.80s leading a strong cohort of MUAC 100m men. MUAC’s strongest event of the day was the steeplechase with Mark Kirwan taking the victory in 9:10.8, just outside the club record with Romain Donneux in 3rd and Nick Earl in 4th. There were personal bests for David McDonald and Anthony Woodward in the 1500m and some fine walking by Matt Irons in the 2000m walk. The relay team of Simon Greig, Alistair Cole, Seamus Hayes and Ben Cook ran well in wet conditions to take third place.

MUAC Mens Division 1 AV Shield Final Team

A big thanks to MUAC’s coaches, volunteers, athletes and committee over a big day of competition and the ten rounds of AV Shield leading up to the Final.

MUAC will be back in action next weekend with round 2 of AV Knockout, and a calendar packed with championships and tour meets leading up to the 93rd Australian Athletics Championships in Brisbane on 26-29 March.

Results

Full results