Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more
Round 8 Shield Report
A trip to Aberfeldie for Round 8 of Athletics Victoria competition on Tuesday, 1st of December capped off a big week of competition for Melbourne University Athletics Club athletes, with many sinews suitably stiffened. There was another strong turnout from MUAC, backing up from competing on Saturday, with many fine performances as the finals approach and bring with them a focus on making sure everyone is eligible for finals.
Paul Kennedy, the win accumulating, race walking juggernaut, did it again in the 2000m walk to make it 8 wins from 8 starts. Tom Donovan, in his first competition for the season, found the white singlet of MUAC to his liking and leapt 2.00m for the win in the high jump. Julian O’Donnell wasn’t far behind in 2nd with a jump of 1.90m. Jo Bromfield pegged out some great early season form, jumping 12.02m, to win the triple jump. Irie Hill and Jack Ingram continued MUAC’s dominance of the pole vault with good wins, both jumping 3.65m.
Shop* won the double in the women’s 4x100m, with the Division 1 team of Jacquie Sharples, Lauren Jauncey, Emma Zalcman, and Kath Clarke, and the Division 2 of Erica Lane, Rachel Painter, Kat Sutton, and Cath Manners both winning with margins over 5 seconds. Lauren Jauncey collected another win, winning the 100m in 12.34 while Kath Clarke won the 400m in 57.01. Sarah Emons continued her good return to competition after the New York Marathon with a win in the 3000m, with Jasmine Neve not far behind.
There was good participation across the board from MUAC athletes, as they tried to fill teams and score points for the club. It looks likely that the the club will have all 5 open teams in the Region Final early next year.
The next competition is Round 9, Saturday, 12th of December at Coburg.
*Melbourne University’s longstanding nickname