XCR19 Round 1: Jells Park Relays

MUAC’s Open women have taken all before them, winning the Premier Women, Division Three and Division 5 races at the opening round of XCR19, the Jells Park Relays.

A Premier Women’s teams stacked with middle distance stars lead a gold medal sweep for the MUAC women on a wet day at Jells Park. Sarah Billings, Georgia Hansen, Catriona Bisset (fresh from a 1:59 800m at UniSport Nationals), Ciara Boyd-Squires Long and Katrina Anderson took the lead during the middle stages of the race and weren’t headed for the rest of the day. Wins in Division 3 and 5 rounded out a record breaking day for MUAC.

Hearty thanks to Stella and Josh for filling MUAC’s duties all day, along with the bevy of MUAC athletes  who stepped up to help out as well.

A passel of athletes made their MUAC debut: Chris Dale, Peter Vermont, Declan Falls, Riley Womal, Daniel Sier, Nathan Tucker, Elly Benson, Niamh Boyd-Squires Long, Georgia Bayley and Annie Burgess.

MUAC’s Premier Men were involved in an exciting tussle for the last spot on the podium. After 36km and nearly two hours of racing, there was a sprint finish for third, fourth and fifth place up the finishing straight. Zac Newman lunged for the line, just pipped for fourth by Glenhuntly, with Box Hill just two seconds ahead in third.

MUAC fielded six open men’s teams and looks on track to have a massive winter of competition.

MUAC will be back in action at Round 2 of XCR’19 on Saturday 1 June at St Anne’s Cross Country.

Results.