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:
- La route de Paris – Australian athletics Olympic qualifyingCheck out which Australians are on track to compete in the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in the French capital.
- Go the red! The difficulty of winning the Stawell Gift as a backmarkerIn 141 editions only seven men have ever won the Stawell Gift off a handicap mark of 4 metres or less.
- Athletics NSW and Little Athletics NSW announce partnershipThe two peak bodies for the sport in NSW will introduce a single membership structure next season, ending over half a century of division.
- 2023/24 Australian Top ListsCheck out the top 5 marks per event so far during the Australian athletics season.
- National 4x100m record falls at Sydney Track ClassicThe quartet of Ebony Lane, Bree Masters, Ella Connolly and Torrie Lewis has set a new Australian record in the 4x100m at the Sydney Track Classic held at ES Marks Athletic Field.