Firstly, a big welcome to SKAAC for our Round 5 debutants: Amanda Pang, Aidan Leiner, Harry Bowen, Hamish Neilson & Jackson Jacotine.

Werribee Venue

Michael Romanin has taken 0.17 off his PB to record a 10.48 sec run over 100m at the AV Shield Round 4 meet at Werribee. This is the second fastest ever run by a SKAAC athlete and o.02 away from the SKAAC Club record. Michael’s next hit out is planned to be at the AV State Relays on 11 November at Lakeside.

Tristan Day ran the 1500m in 4:23.1

Dylan Johnson jumped 6.97m in the Long Jump into a 1.5m/s headwind, a great first up competition

Angus Down tackled the 2k Steeple in 7:35.2

Amanda Pang scored our first points in Open Women’s for quite a few years, by running the 100m in 13.30 (+3.2) and the 400m in 64.96.

Harvey Connor ran the 100m in 11.76 (+2.9), the 400m in 56.68 a rounded out the day 6.32m Long Jump

Great also to see Matt Dinan in his first competition for the season in the Under 16 400m in 65.41

Knox Venue

There were some fantastic performances at Knox, headlined by the performance of our debutants. Harry Bowen ran a great 3000m to stop the clock in 9:57.2, his first ever track 3k. Hamish Neilson (30.29s over 200m) and Aidan Leiner both were similarly impressive in the Under 14 200m, with Aidan also fitting in a Triple Jump (9.08m).

Equally impressive were the SKAAC version of the Williams sisters. Charli breaking the Under 15 Triple Jump record (8.37m) followed closely by Eva (8.29m). Eva a 1.30m High Jump and a 200m (29.18). Charli also for the first time ever, a Shot Put (6.38m).

Jackson Jacotine smashed his Triple Jump PB, breaking through the 11m barrier (11.06m) for the first time, in his first competition for SKAAC. Adam McGarry also had a pair of PB’s in the High (1.35m) & Triple Jump events (8.74m).

Isabelle Collins ran a strong 3000m (11:43.1) in quite humid conditions.

Lauren McGarry broke her own Under 13-18 3kg Shot Put Club Record with 10.11m and Alessia Acquaro jumped an Under 14 Club record in the High Jump (1.20m) and also broke the Under 14 200m record with (30.86 -3.1m/s).

Aaron Little also produced brilliantly in the 3000m with a slashing PB run of 9:56.3. Lincoln Mah also chimed in with a 3000m PB of 11:10.8

Marcus Osman also faced off in the 200m (25.30) for his first run of the AV season, after last week’s heroics at the APS Sports.

Geelong Venue

It was the Imbriano’s at Geelong flying the SKAAC colours with Joel with 7 events. Joel was the fastest athlete on the day in the 1500m Walk (8:52.73)

AV Shield goes into a 2 week break, with the Victorian All Schools Championships next weekend, followed by the AV State Relay Championships on 11th November where a strong presence is assured.

Please see below for details regarding the magnificent win by the SKC Athletics Team on Saturday 21st October at the APS Sports.

Congratulations to SKC Athletics Captain (and SKAAC member) Phil Borg, TIC, Brosie McCann and SKAAC Club members Steve Fabris, Steve Cain and Shaun Hargreaves who have guided the team so magnificently in their senior coaching roles.

APS Boys Heats Results 2017

APS Boys Athletics Results, Records & Points 2017

APS Boys Age Group Points 2017

APS Boys Placings Summary 2017

2017 Aths SKC APS Premiership Team

As a special treat, please also see the link below to the handiwork of Steve Fabris who has captured much of the day on film. Have a look at the Under 15 4x400m Relay – you won’t be disappointed!!

https://www.youtube.com/user/Raptorlawyer/featured?view_as=subscriber

Please see the link below for the 2017 APS Boys Program of Events for those that are able to make it down to Lakeside Stadium on Saturday 21st October 2017 from 1:00pm.

See program here –>> 2017 Aths APS Athletics – Boys Programme

The 2017 Legends Day hit new heights with the splendid new SKC facility at Tooronga playing host to the first of hopefully many more Legends Day’s in the years to come.

The Legends were not only treated to Melbourne’s best weather for 6 months, but also to a sparkling new track and training facility at Tooronga. The all important training for the SKC prospects was also hot on the track, with race simulation over 200m & the sprint hurdles and some testing jumping training under the guidance of SKC & SKAAC Legends Shaun Hargreaves. On the infield it was a who’s who of Australian middle distance running mixing it up with SKC’s best in a wonderful exhibition of high quality training at high intensity. Fair to say the future SKAAC recruits look very promising indeed. See photo below, from lead back, Matt Hussey, Alex Rowe, Joseph Deng, Steve Knuckey, Felix Lonergan, Ben Tipper, someone obscured & Peter Bol.

With 20 Legends in attendance it was a fantastic advertisement for what SKAAC is all about, the giving of support and acknowledgement from our very best Olympians to our youngest and most inexperienced athletes, new to our great sport.

I thank each and every one of our 20 Legends that took person time out to make the day the success that it was and for being so giving of their wisdom and experience to the 2017 SKC Athletics squad.

Front Row, Kneeling, L-R: Steve Fabris, Steve Cain, Justin Rinaldi.

Standing, L-R: Jeremy Weeks, Simon Gallagher, Peter Bourke, James Flinn, Shaun Hargreaves, Peter Bol, Joseph Deng, Conor Fry, Dan Bailey, Adam Pyke, Michael Romanin, Alex Rowe & Steve Knuckey.

Also in attendance but missing the photo: Brosie McCann, Simon Lewin, Jack Holden, Steve Landers

It is with great delight and pride that SKAAC can congratulate Phil Borg on being named as SKC Captain of Athletics. Phil is a multiple SKAAC Club Champion, Victorian Champion and regular National Level performer. He has been a member of SKAAC for all of his junior years and it has been great to see him grow and improve during his time with SKAAC.
His deputies are Max Gray and Matthew Lynch.
Max Gray has also been a prodigious SKAAC junior having won numerous Victorian State Championships in High Jump and Triple Jump. He is also a multiple APS Athletics Champion.
Matthew Lynch has been a mainstay of SKC Athletics and Cross Country and it is fantastic to see Matt rewarded for his excellent service to our sport. He is also 2017 SKC School Captain.
Three fantastic young men that we are proud to call our own.

Some brilliant results for SKAAC athletes at yesterday’s GSV Division 1 Carnival at Lakeside Stadium.
In the Year 7-8 Age group:-
* Lulu Goodman…1500m 6:13.43
In the Year 9-10 Age group:-
* Georgia Durham… who qualified for Finals Night in 3 events… High Jump 1.41m; 800m 2:31.56; 1500m 5:01.39 which was a PB after a HUGE week of running that included the National Cross Country in Wollongong.
* Isabelle Collins… who qualified for Finals Night in 2 events…400m 68.37; 800m 2:26.47; 1500m 5:01.41 which was a PB for Isabelle.
* Ava Bennett…1500m 5:28.06;
* Ellie Ansett… 100m 13.71; 400m 65.31; 800m 2:32.77
In the Year 11-12 Age group:-
Eleanor Brown…100m 13.87; 400m 65.18; 800m 2:30.01; 1500m 5:19.28; High Jump 1.45m

A big congratulations to Loreto who won the Division 1 Carnival from Ruyton & Firbank in 2nd & 3rd respectively.

SKAAC wishes Isabelle Collins, Georgia Durham, Ellie Ansett and Eleanor Brown all the best as they compete for Sacre Coeur and Loreto tomorrow in the Div 1 GSV Athletics Sports.

Also good luck to SKAAC Life Member Steve Cain, who is Head Coach at Strathcona, who compete on Thursday.

It has been a tight season for the girls with Cross Country only finishing recently and on the weekend in Wollongong for Georgia.

After the preliminary carnivals were decided earlier this month. The eight Div 1 schools competing tomorrow at Lakeside Stadium are:-
Genazzano
Star of the Sea
Firbank
Loreto
Melbourne Girls Grammar
Ruyton
St. Catherine’s
Sacre Coeur

Steve Knuckey has produced his season’s best when it counted in the World University Games 800m Final in Taipei on 28th August. In perfect conditions for middle distance racing, Steve managed to avoid plenty of trouble during the two lap dash finishing in 1:47.90.
In a race that resembled a 1st XV match as opposed to an elite 800m race, Steve was fantastic in the last 150m in a fast-finishing 6th place, showing just reward for the many months of build-up to make the final. Steve ran beautifully through the 3 rounds as well, progressively getting quicker each outing.
Bring on the Australian domestic summer!!

Well Done Steve.
Go SKAAC

Missing athletics on the world stage after the fantastic London World Championships? Well I may have an answer. The World University Games begin on 23rd August 2017 and like London there is some TOP SHELF SKAAC talent strutting their stuff in Taipei.

Adam Pyke will run the 1500m with his competition times below:
23/8/2017 Heat 19:05 Local (21:05 Melbourne time)
25/8/2017 Final 18:35 (20:35 Melbourne time)

and Steve Knuckey will run the 800m with his competition times below:
26/8/2017 Heat 11:05 (13:05 Melbourne time)
27/8/2017 Semi 18:30 (20:30 Melbourne time)
28/8/2017 Final 18:30 (20:30 Melbourne time)

Now don’t quote me on this, but I believe that Eurosport on Foxtel may be showing live action at these Uni Games… so keep you eyes peeled for Adam and Steve.

Go SKAAC

As a totally biased SKAAC writer, I found myself in awe of what Luke Mathews achieved at about 5:40am Melbourne time this morning, becoming SKAAC’s first ever Heat Winner in a World Championships beating a HIGH quality field in running 3:38.19 to win Heat 3.
Getting a great start, and settling 4th, Luke put himself in a great position to strike when the inevitable burst came from behind. When that burst came, Luke was not only able to move forward into 3rd spot with 200 to run, but hold his rail position and surge to the line for a famous win and a super confidence lift ahead of the semi-final on Saturday.
Luke, you have done yourself, your family and your club proud today. Rest up and take ’em down in the semi!!