Victorian 5000m Championships

A strong MUAC contingent crossed the river to contest the first Open Athletics Victoria Championships at the new Lakeside Stadium at Albert Park on Thursday, 24th of November.  Six members of the White Train toed the line in the series of 5000m races culminating in 2 ‘A’ Championship events.  Sophie Barker, recent winner of Athletics Victoria’s Winter Champion Athlete, claimed a bronze medal in the Women’s Championship.  Barker set a blistering early pace, chasing a big personal best.  She worked hard in the second half to take the bronze in 17:14.55.  Alison Bryant Smith and Sarah Emons staged a personal duel, battling it out for most of the race, with the medico claiming the honours 18:19.11 to Emon’s 18:29.97.
Mark Kirwan took his place in a strong field including Craig Mottram, Jeremy Roff and Brenton Rowe in the Men’s Championship race.  Mottram, Rowe and Roff cleared out to an early lead and Mark settled in to a large chase pack that stayed together until the final two laps, with Mark finishing well to take 12th place in 14:33.
Hamish Beaumont kept the spectators amused by going out far too hard in the C race before recovering somewhat in the latter stages to record a passable 16:02.15.  Medico in training and 800m runner Jordan Mayston, resplendent in the traditional white shorts of MUAC, took well to the 5000m distance and claimed 11th in the D race, clocking 17:39.15.
MUAC will return to Lakeside Stadium for Round 7 of Shield Competition on Saturday, 3rd of December.

Results