Cross country ends on a high at Bundoora
XCR14 Round 4: Bundoora Cross Country
The Athletics Victoria Cross Country season reached it’s zenith on Saturday, 22nd of June with the Victorian Cross Country Championships at Bundoora Park with the race doubling as the selection trials for the Victorian Team to contest the Australian Cross Country Championships in Albany, WA. 36 MUAC athletes were amongst more than 2000 who raced across the mud, hills and grass of the testing course, with some fine individual and team results from the day.
Stella Radford confirmed her good form ahead of the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon, taking 2nd in the U20 6km event in 22:00.5. Meg Stevenson looked strong, running to 11th place.
James Maguire, soon off to Canadia on exchange, continues his steady winter of training, clocking 29:09 for the tough 8km course for 20th place.
10 MUAC athletes were amongst throngs in the Open Womens Championship, raced over 8km. Sophie Barker was the first MUAC athlete home, returning to the fray with a 9th place. The Premier Division team of Barker, Ellen Schaef, Al Bryant Smith, Gen Blanch and Is Stefanovic fought their way to 8th place and current sit in 5th place on the ladder. For the second race in a row, MUAC fielded a Women’s Division 3 team with Martine Botha, Melissa Natasha, Kate Scarlett and Rachel Painter collecting valuable points in 6th place.
MUAC’s Premier Division Men’s team continues to impress collecting 3rd place for the second time in the XCR14 season. A top four of Martin Mashford (11th), Nick Earl (12th), Mark Kirwan (13th) and Zac Newman (15th) set the platform with debutant Rob Baker (40th) and stalwart David Paroissien (45th) completing the team. Four rounds into the season the team sits in equal third place, only two points off second. The 23 MUAC men combined to form four teams in Premier Division, Division 2, Division 3 and Division 6.
MUAC’s athletes, supporters, volunteers and mascots retired to the MUAC marquee for afternoon tea.
Men Premier Division 3rd 136 points
Men Division 2 3rd 519 points
Men Division 3 5th 669 points
Men Division 6 2nd 851 points
Women Premier Division 8th 328 points
Women Division 3 6th 484 points
Men 40+ 11th 103 points
