Liam Shadbolt cleared 1.83m at high jump to set a Bendigo Centre record for under-15s and under-14s and Eaglehawk and Bendigo Harriers kept the heat on rivals in the weekend’s sixth round of Athletics Victoria Shield League track and field action. The Bendigo round was run on Friday as a twilight/night meet at the Flora Hill complex. In a fierce fight to earn a top two place and promotion for next season, Eaglehawk scored 26,452 to be second in the division two standings.
ABOVE: Liam Shadbolt cleared 1.83m at high jump to set a Bendigo Centre record for under-15s and under-14s on 5 Feb 2021. Photo courtesy of Greg Hilson.
Athletics Chiwell led the way on 29,514 points, but the fourth-placed Sandringham used its PowerPlay which doubled its tally to 14.
Third placegetter was Collingwood. A great run by Bendigo Harriers continued as the club scored 13,763 to be third in division three. Wendouree and Casey-Cardinia led the standings.
Bendigo University’s score of 2898 points was a season high as Molly Butler, Ross Douglas, Janet Hodnett, Andrea Smith and Mason Woodward competed for Uni Pride.
New High Jump Records
Among the many highlights of Friday’s meet was the record-breaking leap by Bendigo Harriers’ rising star Liam Shadbolt at high jump. A clearance of 1.83 metres by the 13-year-old from Swan Hill broke the Centre record for the under-15 and under-14 age groups. The under-15 record of 1.81m was set by Jemuel Pryse of Bendigo Harriers on March 29, 2014. South Bendigo’s James Woods had held the under-14s recorcd of 1.66m since October 22, 2016. Shadbolt’s superb performances at high jump, a mark of 4.91m at long jump, and time of 14.16 in the 90m hurdles earned 1424 points.
In standings for the Most Valuable Athlete of the round, Shadbolt was fifth. He led a list of 12 athletes from Bendigo clubs to feature in the top 100 of the Most Valuable Athlete award.
Eaglehawk’s best were Terry Hicks 1395, equal 7th; Angus McKindlay 1348, equal 14th; Lily Marsh 1231, 41st; David Chisholm 1219, 48th; Andrea Archibald 1173, 66th; Kathy Heagney 1153, 74th; and Jorja Morrison 1110, 91st.
Based in Romsey, Jonah Emonson marked the trek to Bendigo with his twin, Noah and their father, Tim, by performing well on the track and field.
Jonah’s score of 1274 was best for South Bendigo and 28th in the MVA standings.
Events for Jonah Emonson were 100m, 11.97; 110m hurdles, 15.65; 400m, 56.38, and javelin, 35.29m.
Other athletes in great form for South Bendigo were Joan Self 1229, 45th; Abbey Hromenko 1140,70th; and Carol Coad 1114, 90th.
Stand-out performers for South at this meet included Emma Berg, 12.81m at shot put; Taryn Furletti, 3000m; Kai Norton, 9.84m at shot put; Jake Hilson, 100m and 400m; Olivia Attard, 5000m; and Logan Hromenko, 3m at pole vault.
Highlights for the Hawks included Kye Mason, 11.06 in the 100m; Angus McKindlay 51.37 in the 400m and 39.43m at javelin; Andrea Archibald, 100m; Laura Kadri, 400m; James Bentley, 9.93m at shot put; Lily Marsh, 1.45m in high jump; and Terry Hicks, 31.82m at javelin.
Haylee Greenman from Bendigo Harriers put the shot to a mark of 9.09m and clubmate Frances Leach cleared 1.50m at high jump.
A great night for the Evans family included victory by Josh in the 1500m in 5:16.57 and a win by Caitlin in the 400m.
Best at javelin for Harriers was Jorja Hill on 29.69m.
Round seven in AVSL is on next Saturday at the Bendigo Regional Athletics Complex in Retreat Road.
