Record falls as MUAC brings A game to Lakeside
Rare Air Club 1 and Vic Milers Club Meet 1
Nick Earl capped off a night of high quality competition at Lakeside Stadium breaking the MUAC Mens Open 3000m record, running 8:17.1, to take 3rd in the Mens A race.
Earlier in the night the first Rare Air for the season started in trying conditions. After a short rain delay, competition was underway and those that braved the weather were off to a solid start. Warren’s squad showed they’re in for a great season with everyone clearing a bar in the first two competitions.
As the weather cleared and the second group of vaulters arrived, they experienced a much drier warm up and prepared to jump. Rain and cold are never the best combination for vaulting and so it proved as several athletes struggled to perform anywhere near their best if at all.
Leon D’Onofrio took second overall in the Men with a clearance at 4.10m while Kath Ianello was back over 3m with a clearance at 3.05m earning her 3rd place in the Women comp.
Ellen Schaef looked strong down the home straight, pushing clear of her rivals to win the Women’s A 800m in 2:12, just outside her personal best. Sam Blake looked to complete the MUAC quinella with an audacious move down the back straight with 250m to go and held his form well to take 2nd place and run 1:53.5 (a national qualifier). Sarah McSweeney, fresh from a stint of PhD thesis writing, ran strongly in a stacked Women’s A 3000m, finishing fourth behind two World Championship representatives and the current Victorian Marathon champion.
PB’s were abundant on the night with Fred Smithers taking at least 15 seconds of his PB in the 3000m, and Charlie Park taking the win in his race ducking well under 9 minutes for 3000m. David Park made his debut for MUAC and ran an impressive 800, coming close to the 2 minute barrier. Martine Botha’s horse racing/beach focused preparation paid off with a strong season debut over 3000m. MUAC’s in house corporate regulator Tim Thomas declared himself not fit enough, and yet still ran well.
