After an interruption to the Athletics Victoria XCR series due to COVID restrictions, foggy conditions greeted runners at the delayed Cruden Farm leg of the series.
Races were conducted over 4km, 6km, 8km and 12km with junior age groups generally racing over longer than their customary championship distances.
Such was also the case in the open events, with both men and women covering 12km, ahead of the 10km events next weekend at Bundoora.

Andrew Buchanan continued the winning form he showed at the previous XCR series race at Warragul, showing the field a clean pair of heels at 3-minute-a-kilometre pace. The Bendigo athlete stopped the clock at 36 minutes, 8 seconds.


In the minor places were Tom Thorpe (36:28) and Liam Cashin (36:53). Bendigo Region were the dominant team, with five runners placing in the top 20.

The women’s race saw Karinna Fyfe also back up her Lardner Park victory, crossing the line in 42:51 from Melbourne University’s Rebekah Greene (43:10) after a close tussle throughout.

Amy Robinson from Collingwood Harriers was third in 44 minutes, 32 seconds.


The U20 races were conducted over 8km (women) and 6km (men). In the women’s race Ebony Dodemaide was the winner in 32:06 from Georgia Laven (32:16) and Taryn Furletti (33:38). Tom Bowers (19:16) was the victor in the men’s race, ahead of Caden Murray (19:29) and Matthew Buckell (19:30).


Logan Janetski and Niamh Tabit took out the U18 races, covering the 8km and 6km courses in 25:48 and 23:12 respectively.
Free high res photo downloads with your free subscription
Check out the full collection of over 350 photos here
Latest posts:
- Ed Goddard: Finding Joy in the JourneyFor Ed Goddard, running has never been just about medals or margins. It’s about freedom, rhythm, and building a life around what feels good. “I think my approach to training and racing is now quite simple,” he says. “I want to train in the best ways possible, yet in a… Read more: Ed Goddard: Finding Joy in the Journey
- Mia Gross: I RAN A 2 SECOND 400M PB!! 🎉 52.02Mia Gross kicked off her European campaign in Lausanne with a massive breakthrough: smashing her long-standing 400m personal best by over two seconds! In this vlog, Mia takes us behind the scenes of race day, sharing the nerves and near-misses that almost kept her off the start line. Chasing a… Read more: Mia Gross: I RAN A 2 SECOND 400M PB!! 🎉 52.02
- Grace and Grit: Spencer’s smooth stride steals the show at DaptoUnder blue skies and beside the steel-edged shadows of the escarpment, the 110th NSW Short Course Cross Country Championships unfolded in Dapto — fast, flat, and full of fight. But it was the women’s race that held the sharpest drama: a seasoned star gliding back to the top, unshaken and unhurried. Kate… Read more: Grace and Grit: Spencer’s smooth stride steals the show at Dapto
- Sandringham claims women’s title as Western Athletics prevails in men’s at Sandown RelaysThe iconic Sandown Relays returned to the wide turns and long straights of Sandown Racecourse on Saturday, with overcast skies giving way to fine conditions by the afternoon’s close. In the women’s 5×6.2km relay, Sandringham claimed victory with a consistent team performance, turning the tables on their rivals from Jells… Read more: Sandringham claims women’s title as Western Athletics prevails in men’s at Sandown Relays
- Oates smashes course record at NSW Cross Country ChampionshipsThe 127th edition of the NSW Athletics Cross Country Championships was held in glorious winter sunshine at the iconic Willandra course on the NSW South Coast yesterday, with Bronte Oates delivering one of the most dominant runs in the event’s recent history. Still just 20 years old, Bronte Oates from… Read more: Oates smashes course record at NSW Cross Country Championships