Melissa Duncan and Seth O’Donnell have taken out the Victorian cross country championships at Bundoora Park.
The event, which doubled as the selection trials for next month’s Australian Cross Country Championships in Adelaide, were held over a 10km course which was reasonably firm under foot despite patches of mud.
Box Hill’s Duncan made easy work of her victory, winning by over a minute in a time of 35 minutes, 44 seconds. Taking the silver medal was Keely Small (36:47), while Glenhuntly team mate Emma Hogan (37:06) held off a spirited chase from Amy Robinson (37:08) in the battle for the bronze medal.
In the men’s race Box Hill’s Andre Waring made a front running effort and held a small lead through a majority of the race. However, it was Mentone’s Seth O’Donnell who proved stronger over the final lap, running away for victory in 30 minutes, 8 seconds.
Waring finished eight seconds adrift, while Knox’s Lachlan Herd claimed the bronze medal in 30 minutes, 32 seconds.
Logan Janetzki from Glenhuntly and Skye Ellis from Geelong Region were the winners of the Under 20 events, in 24:43 (8km) and 21:56 (6km) respectively. Cameron Marshall (10:13) and Georgia Powning (12:17) won the open 3km para events.
The event also hosted the Victorian schools cross country championships.
Photo Gallery
Here’s a small collection of over 200 photos from the open events.
Full gallery is available here.
Free high resolution downloads when you subscribe to our mailing list.
Need new spikes?
Recent posts:
- Oates comes of age with national crown in Ballarat
Bronte Oates’s rapid rise through the Australian distance running ranks continued in emphatic style at Victoria Park in Ballarat, as the 21-year-old powered to her first national cross country title on her birthday, defeating two-time Olympian Jenny Blundell in the women’s 10km. Oates has spent the winter piecing together a breakthrough season: a fifth place… Read more: Oates comes of age with national crown in Ballarat - Ed Marks poised for Ballarat
The Australian Cross Country Championships head to Ballarat this weekend, and the men’s race has a clear frontrunner: 23-year-old Ed Marks, who has emerged as one of the brightest young talents in Australian distance running. After consecutive podium finishes at the national championships, Marks is chasing the elusive gold medal to complete his steady rise… Read more: Ed Marks poised for Ballarat - Inside Track: Weekly Recap (14 August 2025): From WR pacing to Airport Arrests
From upcoming world-record chases to off-track headlines, here’s your quick-fire wrap of the week’s biggest stories in athletics. Hull to Pace Kipyegon’s 3000m World Record Bid Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon will target Wang Junxia’s 32-year-old 3000m world record (8:06.11) at Saturday’s Silesia Diamond League, joined by surprise pacemaker Jess Hull. Sage Hurta‑Klecker will lead… Read more: Inside Track: Weekly Recap (14 August 2025): From WR pacing to Airport Arrests - Mia Gross: Sprinter training in St.Moritz??
Australian sprinter Mia Gross shares a week-long altitude block in St. Moritz focused on recovery and a lighter load (blocks, wickets, one 350m rep, light gym), plus an 8-minute cold-water plunge amid surprise summer snow. She says travel is complicating completion of new genetic-testing requirements for female eligibility and plans to handle it at home.… Read more: Mia Gross: Sprinter training in St.Moritz?? - Inside Track: Weekly Recap (7 August 2025): From Central Coast training to US Trials Fireworks
From a home-based training plan by high jump star Nicola Olyslagers, to 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus rewriting the record books over 800m, it’s been a week of bold moves and big performances. Add in the rekindled sprint rivalry between Noah Lyles and Kenny Bednarek, standout results from the US Trials, and the 30-year anniversary of Jonathan… Read more: Inside Track: Weekly Recap (7 August 2025): From Central Coast training to US Trials Fireworks
