Round 4 XCR’15:Victorian Cross Country Championships

Griffith, Jackson and Jackson is not the title of a august legal firm but the winning formula for MUAC’s U20 Women’s team. The team took the victory at the victory in the 2015 Victorian Cross Country Championships at Bundoora Park on Saturday. Georgia Griffith, stepping out of her track comfort zone ran well to take four place in the 6km race followed closely by Elly Jackson in 9th and Sarah Jackson in 12th. A score of 25 points garnered them the win with a slim 2 point margin over Knox.

MUAC had a record contingent of 40 athletes racing the Victorian Cross Country Championships amongst the 2500+ athletes racing the hills and grass of Bundoora on the biggest day of the year for cross country in Victoria.  MUAC’s volunteers, David McDonald, Zac Newman, Martin Mashford and Matt Irons were out early helping with junior races. Fred Smithers took on a stacked field in the U20 Mens 8km race over the new Bundoora course and ran well to take 28th place in 29:00.1.

A big contingent of MUAC women, led by Winter Captain Al Bryant Smith, lined up for the Open Women’s 8km race. The depth and speed of the team showed through with MUAC’s Premier Women (Amanda Paulin, Sarah McSweeney, Sarah James, Aislinn Prendergast and Ella Trimboli) getting 3rd place, and push MUAC into fourth on the premiership ladder. MUAC’s Division 3 Women went one better with Al Bryant Smith, Amy McCormick, Gen Blanch and Claire Boulange flying into second place. MUAC’s Division 5 Women’s team (Martine Botha, Kate Scarlett, Marie Parsons ably supported by Cassie Cohen and Bethany Hosking) continued the MUAC domination winning by more than 200 points.

Three laps over 12km of the daunting course over Mt Cooper in Bundoora Park faced MUAC’s Open Men. The team was bolstered by the return of MUAC 5000m and 10000m record holder, MUAC life member and former club president Dan Quin for his first championship race in nearly a decade. Zac Newman showed that his approach of combining marathon training with extra curricular activities was paying off, taking 9th place in a storming run. Newman combined with Nick Earl, Yohan Philip, Winter Manager Max Ueda, Dan Quin and Hamish Beaumont to take MUAC’s Premier Men to 5th place and strengthen their grip on third on the premiership ladder. In other notable racing, Paul Shortis crossed the line 90s in front of his bitter rival Tony Brain. Guillermo Munoz Cobo made his MUAC debut and ran an impressive race to finish just outside 50 minutes.

A big thanks to MUAC’s volunteers, David McDonald, Zac Newman, Martin Mashford and Matt Irons, for helping out and to MUAC’s mascots, Roarie the Lion, Simba and Hugo.

A cool down jog and a sumptuous afternoon tea in the MUAC marquee concluded the afternoon for the tired and sore MUAC contingent.

MUAC will be racing again in two weeks for Round 5 of XCR’15, the Albert Park 10km Road Race on Sunday 28th June.

Results