Cross Country Victorian Championship

Last Saturday two senior teams headed to Princes Park, Carlton to compete in the Victorian Road Relay Championships. Last year the team had a podium finish in the U/18 event and the number one team were again hopefully of a medal finish this year in the U/20 race. The race is a 4 x 3km event and features all the top APS and AGS schools, most who compete each Saturday morning in fixtured cross country events. James Cruse ran the first leg and although sitting in fifth place at the change he was in touch with the leaders.

Importantly his fast start against arguably the 'gun' runners from each of the other nineteen schools had put the team in the mix. Ben Parker ran second and after consolidating his position in the first half of his leg he was able to move the team into fourth place by the change. Charles Saunders ran the third leg and he immediately moved up on the third placed runner. He initially sat on his opponent, but ultimately wore him down and changed for the final leg in third place. Charles Barrett ran the final leg and although he had been under the weather during the week, he paced himself beautifully and was able to pick off the Xavier runner to work the team into second place by the finish. A wonderful effort by the boys considering the quality of the field.With school training only just beginning at the college the road relays each year are always a little early in the season for our boys.

This was the case with the number two team who could only find three U/18 runners, their fourth runner being U/20. Hence, they had to compete in the U/20 event. Add to this that two of the four runners were very inexperienced when it comes to competitive running, the boys all performed well. Anthony Mathews got the team off to a good start and Thomas Beecham running in his first competition ran a very solid second leg to hold his own with the other competitors around him. Matteo Bell, also in his first competition, ran a very well-paced leg considering he was left running on his own, as most of the field were spread far and wide by this stage of the race. Dylan Gwynne, like Matteo, was left to virtually run a time trial for his leg of the relay as he too was on his own for most of the 3km circuit. It was a terrific run by Dylan, as his time below indicates. Congratulations boys on a great effort and thank you for representing the school.

A big thank also to all the parents who attended. I look forward to continuing to develop the culture of distance running at St Bernard's.

TEAM 1

James Cruse 9.08

Ben Parker 9:56

Charles Saunders 9.23

Charles Barrett 9.08

TEAM 2

Anthony Matthews 10.33

Thomas Beecham 11.36

Matteo Bell 11.34

Dylan Gwynne 9.55