In a day where every SKAAC runner wore black armbands in respect of the passing of Life Member #8, Maurie Lynch on 3rd August, who was a great athlete in his own right and an even better supporter of all things SKAAC, it seemed entirely appropriate that SKAAC would write history that Maurie would have been most proud.

In the presence of Maurie’s wife, Rosaleen, his children, son Joe competing and running 34:11 for 41st, son Eamon and daughter Eileen, it was an inspired SKAAC that faced the starter for the tough 8km course around Yarra Bend, along with a fair shower of hail.

We’ve have had some famous days in our near 75 year history. Shield Final wins, State Champions, Relay successes, National Champions, National record holders and AV race winners. But Saturday 11th August 2018, delivered another first for SKAAC our first ever Female Division 1 win in the APSOC Cross Country competition. The Open female team were emphatic winners, with SKAAC producing the first 3 female runners across the line, and the 7th place finisher for a team total of 13 points. Debutant Charlotte Imer was simply MAGNIFICENT in finishing 12th overall in 29:11, winning the Female section by nearly 3 minutes from Karen Thorp in second place in 32:03, followed by Kayla DeBondt in third spot in 32:55. Maddie Tricarico had her best run for the season, in the most important race for the season, finishing 7th in 35:51.

APSOC Cross Country Season 2018 has been a watershed one for the Female SKAAC team. Winning the last 3 championship teams races, The Williamson, The Hooley Relay and the Cooke McClelland Shield. Prior to these 3 wins, our only teams race win was at The Jamieson in 2000. SKAAC have been pretty lucky of late, with an amazing string of individual & team successes, but it is hard to go past this famous series of performances for the SKAAC Female APSOC team, taking on the super strong Old Xaverians team head-to-head and emerging with our FIRST EVER Division 1 Female Team title.

On an extraordinary day, so too would the SKAAC Open Mens Team win the Cooke McClelland Shield, to secure back-to-back APSOC Premierships, narrowly defeating Old Xaverians.

A highlight for the Mens Team would be the supreme sportsmanship display by Jack Holden. Trailing David Thomas (Old Carey) narrowly before the final climb up to the finish line, David would take a wrong turn and complete an extra portion of the track, realising this Jack, waited for David at the beginning of the final climb and allow David to claim a much deserved win. I could not be more proud of Jack to make this decision during the race, and further enhance the SKAAC reputation for tough, but fair competition. Well Done Jack!!

The team of Jack Holden 25:58 (2nd), Simon Field 28:16 (7th), Charlotte Imer 29:11 (12th) Jeremy Weeks 29:26 (15th), Steve Fabris 30:23 (19th) and Karen Thorp 32:03 (25th) 80 points, were too strong for Old Xavs 93 points.

The #2 Team of Ned O’Brien 32:28 (29th), Kayla DeBondt 32:55 (32nd), Joe Lynch 34:11 (41st), Dan Bailey 35:48 (48th), Maddie Tricarico 35:51 (49th) and Camille Hudson 37:28 (60th) finishing the season in a strong 6th place was a fantastic result and solidifies our 2nd team in Division 1 for season 2019.

After a long drought between Division 1 APSOC premierships, to win back-to-back is a great testament to the tireless work of Cross Country Team Managers Tristan Mioni and Sam Doble and also to the attitude of the many athletes that represented the fanous blue, green and gold of SKAAC in 2018.

For those present at the Cooke and close watchers of APSOC Cross Country, the win by our Women will be a highlight that endures for many years to come, for the Female premiership, until yesterday, has only been won by 3 clubs, Old Haileybury, Old Wesley and Old Xaverians, who have won for each of the last 10 years.

Grab yourself a coffee this could take a while..

To start with an understatement, there were plenty of highlights at the Hooley Relays on 14/7/2018, Bastille Day to be precise, and SKAAC did the conquering it’s fair to say.

Firstly the SKAAC Day started at 2:30am (4:30am Christchurch time) for Kelsey Berryman to catch a plane to Melbourne to act as recorder for the Mens Div 1 team, Ooooohhh and to watch Brad a little bit as well too.

Arguably the best day possible greated all that woke on this day, 14-15 degrees with great sunshine and near still conditions…The Hooley was on and SKAAC were ready.

30 athletes, 6 Mens teams and 2 Female teams would be, if not our largest ever contingent, certainly our largest in 30 years.

A great profile of athletes would wear the famous SKAAC colours. Brothers (Thomas & Samuel Scroggie and Harry & Jack Bowen), Brother & Sister combination (Josh & Isabelle Collins) Housemates (Tristan Mioni/Liv Mitchell/Maddie Tricarico) past SKC Cross Country Captains (Simon Field, Brosie McCann, Ned O’Brien, Joe Lynch) Current SKC Cross Country Captain (Will Lewis), National Level Decathletes (Dan Bailey) Current SKC Coaches (Steve Fabris, Jeremy Weeks) and Mother & Sons & Brothers (Chloe Cornwell, Gabe, John & Charlie) and we can also claim a Father & Son (with Andrew and Angus Down, Andrew competing with Old Brighton) and our Commonwealth Games Finalist (Brad Mathas).

The Mens Div 1 Team, was on paper a very strong team, but would be facing a stern test from Old Welsey, Old Xavs & Scotch. In a blistering start Steve Knuckey (8:50, Old Wesley) would lead home Brad Mathas (8:56) to hand a 6 second lead for Will Lewis to chase down one of the better athletes in the state in Lachlan Aspinall, Will Lewis (9:31) was sensational to hand over to Simon Field with Old Wesley in sight. Fieldy is a legend, warm-up with a kick-of-the-footy with his son Josh and then to business. Belting out a 9:42 leg and putting SKAAC into a narrow lead of 14 seconds, before the handover to Matthew Hussey. Matt would extend the lead to 20 seconds before Brad would attack again, running nearly the same time (8:57) the race was SKAAC’s for the keeping. Will Lewis attacked hard and was rewarded with 9:26 with Fieldy (9:46) and Matt a big drop running 9:33. In a gripping race where Old Wesley were always within striking distance, it was a great effort to get the win against such strong opposition. The final margin of 47 seconds over 24km was pretty slim indeed.

If you thought that would be hard to top, then the performance of the Women’s team did!! Our first ever female win at the Hooley, with two outstanding juniors leading the way, along with super recruit Maddie Tricarico. The fact that every member of the winning Women’s team has had their first APSOC run this season is testament to the work of Tristan Mioni and Sam Doble, the SKAAC Winter Team Managers.

In a fantastic piece of trivia, the Women’s team actually beat the SKAAC Mens team over the finish line. (Total time 73:56 versus 75:41 for the men)

However, back to the racing, where it too would be Old Wesley, along with the traditional powerhouse of Old Xavs proving the worthiest of opponents. Isabelle Collins, on her APSOC debut, would lead off in 12:11, to just trail in behind Old Xavs. Handing over to Maddie for the second leg, knowing that multiple APSOC race winner Anna Kasapis was in hot pursuit would not phase Maddie, returning to hand over to Milla in a super slick 12:14. we were 27 second behind Old Wesley and 10 seconds in front of OX, before Milla took to the course. What followed was spectacular, Milla eroding Old Wesley’s lead and establishing one for SKAAC to the tune of 27 seconds Old Wesley, with Old Xavs trailing by 58 seconds. The team was starting to believe what could be possible, with careful attention paid to “between leg” recovery and preparation to “do it all again”. Isabelle flew around the curcuit a second time in 12:07, maintaining a lead before handing to Maddie for a brilliant leg (12:42) against Old Wesley’s ace who would mount a final assault in the 5th leg. It was going to be a head-to-head race over the final leg, with nothing separating the clubs at the final change. Milla, displaying tactical nous beyond her years would run a near faultless leg (12:22) to lead the SKAAC Women to their first ever win at the Hooley. The final margin 54 seconds to Old Wesley in second and 1:49 to Old Xavs. The photo left, is the history making team, post race and with the spoils of victory.

A hallmark of the Women’s effort this year has been the passion of Olivia Mitchell. Not only an energiser for the entire club, Liv is also running out of her skin. A comparison of her running last year v’s this year at the same race…2018 (12:41/12:54) versus (13:55/14:26) a staggering improvement in 1 year!! Chloe Cornwell, recounting the 18 odd years since the last time SKAAC won a Women’s teams event, was sensational running for 2.5 hours in the morning and then again at the Hooley finishing in 14:47/15:11. Rounding out the team was another boom recruit, Camille Hudson with 13:01/13:17 showing her prowess.

The feeling at the event was brilliant, matching the weather, with students, older runners, all enjoying the concept presented by the Hooley Relay. You didn’t need to go far on the day to see another club mate either on the track or warming up or down to feel right at home.

There were some other notable performances, Jeremy Weeks running 9:46/9:55 to show just how fit he is at present. Ned O’Brien, fresh from his medal at Sandown 10:32/10:46. Coach Fab 10:14/10:32 and Thomas Scroggie 9:59/9:56, with the banter before the line between Fab & Thomas a highlight as their teams changed at the same time!!

Rising star Luca DiConza ran brilliantly to record 9:48/9:52, along with Harry Bowen 10:30/10:16.

Josh Collins, a really important member of the SKC team ran his first run since a trip to Greece ran 10:05/10:01.

Out star decathlete Dan Bailey also faced the starter, stopping the clock at 11:43/11:58.

Great to see Samuel Scroggie out there too, following a frustrating summer with injury running 12:44/13:03, similar for Angus Down following an arm injury 12:07/12:11. Year 9 student Ryan Marcina ran fantastically well across his two legs as well for a 11:10/11:31 return. Lincoln Mah, who ran the Gold Coast Marathon recently in PB time, ran 12:59/11:54, the last leg important as he guided Milla home in her finish to the line in the Women’s race.

JD Lynch is a SKAAC legend and it is always great to see him out racing at his normal high standard. An 11:38/11:58 day shows how well he backed up from Sandown the week before.

Our fearless winter Captains Mioni (12:58/12:37) and Doble (13:06/13:24) also let their feet do the talking, despite organising us all brilliantly on the day. SKC student Seamus Taylor 14:27/14/28 would impress many with his consistency and finishing burst to the line.

It’s never happened before, but it’s getting close. And I’ll back the Cornwell’s to get it done. That is, to race an entire APSOC race as a family. Gabe/John/Charlie would all make up a team with Jack Bowen and finish in front of nearly a dozen clubs. With mum Chloe running, you could say it was “nearly” done, but come on James, how about a comeback 🙂

In a day that will be remembered for many years, for many reasons, it is hard to not go past the fantastic environment created for athletes of all ages, genders and abilities to “get out there and have some fun”. A truly great SKAAC day.

Thanks to all who made it possible, parents driving athletes to Wantirna, volunteers to record team sheets and team managers to get the teams together, for without you, the memories we all have would not have eventuated.

 

Go SKAAC

 

In a busy few weeks on the APSOC & AV circuits there has been some stellar performances that have solidified the SKAAC Club Championship tables. Please see below for current ladder up to and including the AV Sandown Road Relays.

The current club championships tables look like this:-

Mens Open	Total	Ranking
Callum Day	60	1
Jack Holden	44	2
Sam Doble	40	3
Xavier Chapman	38	4
Adam Pyke	34	5
Lincoln Mah	34	5
Dino Imbriano	32	7
Steve Knuckey	32	7
Karen Thorp	32	7
Tristan Day	30	10
Brad Mathas	30	10
Luca Di Conza	30	10

 

Under 20	Total	Ranking
Callum Day	126	1
Joel Imbriano	78	2
Tom Forster	43	3
Tristan Day	40	4
Ned O’Brien	38	5
Luca Di Conza	32	6
Huw Warrillow	28	7
Matthew Lynch	26	8
Harry Bowen	24	9
Glen Imbriano	12	10

 

Open Women	Total	Ranking
Karen Thorp	96	1
Olivia Mitchell	69	2
Milla Gleeson	58	3
Madeleine Tricarico	52	4
Trish Doble	40	5
Chloe Cornwell	22	6
Kayla De Bondt	20	7
Lulu Goodman	16	8
Gail King	7	9

 

Under 20 Women	Total	Ranking
Milla Gleeson	160	1
Lulu Goodman	30	2
Isabella McDonald	16	3

A fantastic day of Cross Country Road Racing was completed at Sandown Racecourse, with SKAAC having15 athletes face the starter, the most ever for SKAAC. With the course reduced to 3.1km for all Divisions due to extreme weather, there were some very happy and others not so happy. The Under 20 Men also created double history, not only being our first ever Under 20 Mens team, but also securing a famous Silver medal in the process!! Picture Left-Right Tristan Day, Callum Day, Ned O’Brien with the silver bling.

I would like to start by thanking the huge contingent of officials that made today possible for SKAAC for without them we wouldn’t have had the success we did.

• * Sam Doble (AV helper)
• * Mark Moussalli (AV helper)
• * Monique Newell (Mens Open recorder)
• * Anne Howard (Mens Under 20 recorder)
• * Danielle Gleeson (Womens Under 18 recorder)
• * Dino Imbriano (Under 14 recorder)
• Also a huge welcome for Huw Warrilow, Jack Bowen and Ben Forster each making their debuts for SKAAC in the Under 14 team.
• Our senior Mens team of Xavier Chapman (9:50), Jack Holden (9:16) , Adam Pyke (9:13) , Steve Knuckey (9:04) & Brad Mathas (9:04)dominated from the get-go and were in front of plenty of more highly graded teams (we were coming 5th in Div 1) after Brad finished our 5th leg.
• The 40+ Mens Team of Dino Imbriano (11:54), Andrew Thomas (13:28) & Joe Lynch (12:05) finished in 7th place.
• The Under 14 Mens had 2 teams entered for the first time in the club’s history with 3 debutants out of our 5 runners!!
  • Team 1 came 5th with Tom Forster (11:26), Ben Forster (12:33) & Jack Bowen (11:56) running sensationally in tough windy conditions.
  • Team 2 of Joel Imbriano (11:58) & Huw Warrilow (14:07) were fantastic. With Joel only 4 seconds away from his dad Dino!! Watch out Dino 🙂
• The Under 18 Womens team of Milla Gleeson and Lulu Goodman also had a great race, with Milla stepping under 4min/k pace for the first time ever and Lulu also posting a sensational time.

Photos below…

Brad Mathas strides out in Mens Open

Steve Knuckey flying down the finish in Mens Open

Milla psyching herself for a PB run

Joel Imbriano & Tom Forster on the start line for Under 14 Men

Thommo working hard in Mens 40+

The Fabthews Crew: Lulu Goodman, Ben Forster, Jack Bowen, Tom Forster & Milla Gleeson

In a historic result, the SKAAC Women’s team have won the APSOC Williamson teams event for the first time since the race inception for Women in 1999. This is only SKAAC’s second ever Women’s Team event win in APSOC following a win at the Jamieson in 2000. So to say it’s been a while is an understatement. A winning team member from today, Milla Gleeson, wasn’t even born in 2000!!

The team was headlined by race winner Karen Thorp 18:07, and Milla Gleeson 20:39 who won the Under 23 Women’s section. Madeleine Tricarico finished 4th in 20:38 and Olivia Mitchell secured the famous win with her 10th place finish in 21:53.

Make no mistake – this is a MASSIVE result for the club and for the team that did us all so proud. Well done Karen, Maddi, Milla and Liv!!

Please see the photo to the left with the spoils of victory. L-R Olivia Mitchell, Madeleine Tricarico & Karen Thorp. Absent Milla Gleeson

In the Mens Race it was two junior STARS that lead the way for SKAAC in our 3rd place finish. Year 9 Luca DiConza, fresh from his Bronze medal at All Schools last week came 9th in 16:18 and Year 8 Harry Bowen also picking up Bronze last week finishing 18th in 17:04. These two are great young men and are sure to delight the SKAAC faithful in the years to come. Not to be outdone, 2017 SKC Captain of Cross Country Ned O’Brien finished 24th in 17:56, Karen had a “double contributing day” slotting into 26th overall, with ageless warriors Lincoln Mah 34th 19:00 and Joe Lynch 39th 19:38 making up the Div 1 team.

Our Div 2 team contained the balance of the winning female team and club debutant Thomas Weereratne 52nd in 20:38, Matt Lynch 20:01 and SKC TIC of Cross Country Brosie McCann 21:48. Great also to see SKAAC Cross Country Team Manager Tristan Mioni out continuing his recovery from shoulder surgery running the 5km course in 22:05.

All in all a FANTASTIC day for SKAAC and a history making win for our Women’s team.