St Kevin's Amateur Athletic Club
A big welcome to Tristan Mioni who has agreed to join the SKAAC Committee effective immediately to further sharpen the SKAAC focus on our winter cross country and distance running development. Please join me in congratulating Tristan and thanking him in advance for the contribution he will make to our club.
Please see below for a photo to outline the lengths Tristan will go to for SKAAC.
22 years is a long time.
SKAAC’s last win in this most prestigious of APSOC races was in 1995, when many of the clubs legends (and some current coaches) were strutting their stuff on the National & International stage.
So it was appropriate for Justin Rinaldi and his very talented group to create their own slice of SKAAC APSOC history in a commanding win in the Dyson Relay around the Kings Domain on 20 May 2017.
To have 9 of the top 20 runners also underlined what a great day it was for SKAAC.
Also, there was plenty to be excited about with the composition of our two teams. With club stalwarts Xavier Chapman, Mark Deluca & Anthony Aloisio (all former APSOC Champion Athletes of the Year) marking their returns to APSOC racing, and Joseph Deng VERY impressive running 11:40 in his SKAAC debut.
A BIG congratulations to Trish Doble for winning the Women’s 50+ division with her 16:34 effort!!
Also a great effort of team management by Mark Moussalli juggling the teams with aplomb.
All 6 members of the Div 1 team ran under 12 minutes:
Peter Bol 11:24
Alex Rowe 11:30
Jack Holden 11:56
Brad Mathas 11:34
Anthony Aloisio 11:59
Mark Deluca 11:40
For a team time of 70:03, nearly 3 minutes in front of a strong Old Xaverians team.
Scarcely less impressive was the SKAAC #2 team winning Div 2 by nearly 2 minutes. The first 3 runners of this team were in second place overall for half the race!!
Joseph Deng 11:40
Xavier Chapman 12:08
Tristan Mioni 12:36 (equal PB)
Joe Lynch 14:50
Stuart Pettigrew 19:58
Sam Doble 15:14
The SKAAC Div 1 Women’s team finished in 5th place
Karen Thorpe 15:33
Olivia Mitchell 18:09
Chloe Cornwell 17:37
Emily Wallace 17:24
Also great runs by John Cornwell 15:44m, which was a PB, and Stephanie Greenslade battling cramps to run 19:21
With all the ability and results on the board to indicate he should be receiving some central funding, Adam Pyke sadly has to do it the hard way.
In the next few months, Adam has a series of races in Europe before representing Australia at the World University Games in Taiwan over 1500m.
Adam leaves for Europe on June 2nd, going via Leonora. His first confirmed race will be in Leiden, NED on the 17th June. His other races haven’t been confirmed yet but SKAAC will be sure to let everyone know the series of races once they are 100% confirmed.
Adam’s expenses for the next three months are as follows:
European Racing Campaign: Approx. $14000
Uni Games Team Levy: $4000
This is now our chance to support Adam to pay his own way to represent himself, his family, his country and our great club in some of the big European races and then in the Green & Gold at the Uni Games.
Adam has set up a funding mechanism (via the Australian Sports Foundation) that allows every dollar that you pledge to be treated as personally tax deductible to you the donor.
Please take the time to assist a fellow SKAAC’er get on the world stage to strut his stuff.
Please use the link below to make a donation, however large or small, every cent counts.
www.asf.org.au/athletes/adam-pyke/
All at SKAAC wish Adam all the best for this fundraising campaign and also for his European racing season.
A wonderful facility awaits us in early July (weather permitting) for the SKAAC family when Tooronga will be officially opened.
As can be seen in the photo taken 4/5/17, 80m of the main straight has been laid and the bend is becoming “blue” very quickly. The track will be IAAF certified and allow us to hold official sprint & field competitions.
It will be a secure facility with two magnificent pavilions, complimented with a long/triple pit, high jump fan and a shot put sector.
Up, up and away!!
On behalf of the SKAAC Committee we congratulate Callum Day on being announced as 2017 Cross Country Captain at Trinity Grammar. Callum is a budding star of the sport, having only until recently juggled representative basketball with his running.
After a super win by the Trinity Under 20 team (nearly 90 seconds in front of the 2nd placed Marcellin Team) at the All Schools Cross Country Championships at Jells Park on the weekend, it is clear that his leadership is already having a huge impact. This was a team that also contained Callum’s younger sibling, Tristan, fresh off his national 3,000m Bronze medal. What a delight to see two brother atop the podium from the same race!
Callum, all the best for the remaining Cross Country Championships and the AGSV season.
And also a big well done to Callum & Tristan’s coach, Steve Cain, who has done a magnificent job over the last 2 seasons with both lads.
Plenty of SKAAC & past SKC students in action in Stawell over the Easter weekend.
Congratulations to Jack Anderson (SKC Captain of Athletics in 2015) who won the backmarkers 400m to earn his first Stawell sash off 26m if 45.58. Interesting to note that the runner up, Paul Tancredi is also a SKC Old Collegian.
Also fantastic to see Michael Romanin make the Gift Final, finishing 5th in 12.41 off 4.75m (which was televised on National television) after a slashing Semi win in 12.21. Didn’t know that we was so into souvlaki’s – but Peter Donaghan and Jason Richardson sure let us know about this little “not so” secret 🙂
Joel Bee, who has had a fantastic pro season ran in Backmarkers invitational finishing 7th in 12.89.
Shaun Hargreaves won his heat in the Jack Donaldson 200m and narrowly missed out in making the final after a very close semi.
Alex Rowe, off scratch in the Hedeman Invitational mile ran 4:06 to be right in the mix finishing in 7th place – and probably one of his best runs given he went around nearly the whole field!!
Jeremy Weeks was also in action in the Mile (14th in Backmarkers 4:10.68) & 800 (3rd in his Heat in 1:54.58) as was Jack Anderson’s brother Sam in the Restricted mile, finishing 4th in 4:14.9 and also 15th in the Backmarkers Mile in 4:11.59
At last night’s AGM, Dino Imbriano was unanimously awarded Life Membership of SKAAC for his unbroken 15 season stint as Club Registrar/Treasurer. Also noted in the dossier accompanying his nomination were some pretty solid PB’s from Long Jump to 5,000m.
All at the club are extremely grateful to Dino for his tireless work on and off the track.
Please see below for the full document supporting Dino’s elevation to Life Member.
Background
Dino Imbriano has provided exemplary service to SKAAC since he joined the club for season 2002/2003 both on and more particularly off the track.
In a sport considered individualistic to many, it is the selfless acts of club members to take on large administrative portfolios such as Treasurer/Registrar that ensure a smooth season for everyone, that very often go un-noticed and even worse often not recognised.
Dino is the longest serving SKAAC Executive Committee Member, with a continuous length of service now into its 15th Season as Treasurer/Registrar. The contribution Dino has made to the smooth running of the club cannot be understated. With at least 20 new members joining SKAAC each season, conservative estimates would have Dino being responsible for well over 300 new members being introduced to the club.
Dino was awarded the Jack Baker trophy as SKAAC’s Best Clubman in 2003/2004, which was formal recognition for his outstanding contribution to SKAAC.
Athletic Performances
However don’t let the amazing work done off the track in the critical administrative post, cloud Dino’s performances on the track. From his introduction to athletics in the SKC House carnival in 1988, where he won the Year 8 trophy for his wins in the 800m, 1500m and 2nd place finishes in the 200m, 400m & Long Jump, Dino has been a mainstay of all Men’s teams for 19 seasons. More recently, Dino has been instrumental in the formation of the SKAAC Mens 40+ team acting as the major points scorer and Team Manager.
Season 2016/2017, saw Dino crowned as Mens’ 40+ Club Champion for his amazing point scoring feats during the season.
Dino represented SKC at the APS Sports in 1989 (800m – 2:10), 1990 (800m – 2:05.1 & 1500m 4:20.1) and again in 1991 (4x400m)
Following his SKC school career, Dino joined Collingwood Harriers in 1993/1994 for 2 years due to the convenience of training at the Collingwood track in Clifton Hill, whilst he lived in Thornbury.
Half of Dino’s PB’s were set in these two seasons at Collingwood.
• 200m – 25.6
• 400m – 56.0
• 800m – 2:01.
• Long Jump – 5:36m
In Dino’s second season at Collingwood he ran PB’s 3 weeks in a row leading into Christmas. Unfortunately he hurt his knee playing indoor soccer in early January and didn’t return to athletics until 2002/2003, the time when he re-joined SKAAC.
Season 2016-2017 is Dino’s 19th season in the famous gold, green & blue of SKAAC.
Dino’s remaining PB’s were set in season 2007/2008 in SKAAC colours.
• 1500m – 4:18.1
• 3000m – 9:27.7
• 5000m – 17:26.0
• Tan – 12:57
Dino has made the recent seasons a ‘family affair’ with his son Joel also joining the club and making a similar impression in the Under 14 team as Dino has done in the Mens teams.
The future
Dino is as energised as ever, despite being extremely disappointed to see the Mens 40+ team miss the finals in 2016/2017 by the barest of margins. Dino is extremely motivated to see the club succeed into the future, with the huge opportunities for SKAAC presented by the new athletics track being developed at Tooronga. In Dino’s opinion, this will finally give SKAAC a home base to build on the work Justin Rinaldi has done with his squad training at SKC since season 2015/2016.
Dino sees one of the challenges for SKAAC, to ensure growth of our female membership and ensure SKAAC continue to recruit “club level athletes” from the school. That is those athletes who just like to get out there and compete each week. Dino notes that whilst he may not be the most talented athlete, he just loves getting out there and doing his best for the club.
In a stunning Australian National Championships for SKAAC where 2 Gold and 3 Bronze medals were claimed, I think it is safe to claim this as our best result ever.
Gold
Luke Mathews stunning win in the Open 800m (1:46.71) in a race containing no less than 3 SKAAC competitors, was a war of attrition, with early leader Peter Bol, joined by Luke at the top of the straight for an epic battle with Josh Ralph of NSW. with 50m to go, Ralph had taken the lead and title looked his, until Luke unleashed a withering finish and with an excellent lung at the line had defended his title from 2015/2016 in fine style in a crack field. Luke’s win generating a level of media interest, sadly rarely seen, with a feature article in the Sunday Herald Sun. He now heads to the Jamieson at Scotch this Saturday and then to the US to continue the charge towards World Championships qualifiers for both 800m & 1500m.
Conor Fry was a sensational winner of the Under 20 400m Hurdles in 52.91, the first time a SKAAC athlete had dipped below 53 sec and in doing so breaking the Open Club record that had stood for 55 years. For those present, to witness the run, will carry the memory for many many years.
Bronze
Tristan Day’s season ended on a high with his first individual track national medal with Bronze in the Under 17 3000m (9:00.03). Tristan has taken his running to stunning heights in the last 24 months and this result is just rewards for his dedication, persisteance and effort both on and off the track to make the improvements necessary for success at National level.
Dylan Johnson peaked at exactly the right time for nationals with PB’s and Open Club records in both qualifying and the Final in Sydney. His leap of 15.79m (+1.2) in the final , good enough for Bronze and also setting the new SKAAC Open Club Record.
Alex Rowe has continued an amazing record finishing in the Top 3 of the National 800m Final for 6 seasons in a row. His Bronze this season added to 4 Silvers and 1 Gold in 2012-13.
To have 26 athletes qualified to represent themselves, their state and importantly the mighty SKAAC is an achievement that everyone can be justifiably proud of. To win 5 medals is icing on the cake.
Plenty of athletes made their national debuts and others have made their first national final, but the SKAAC presence in Sydney created a unique atmosphere that allowed everyone to perform at their best. Bring on 2017/2018.
The full list of results for SKAAC athletes can be seen below:-
Open
Dylan Johnson Triple Jump Qual 15.75m, Final 3rd 15.79 (+1.2)
Adam Pyke 1500m Heat 2nd 3:45.54 and Final 4th 3:53.74
Steve Knuckey 800m Heat 4th 1:50.22
Alex Rowe 800m Heat 1st 1:49.99 and Final 3rd 1:47.29
Peter Bol 800m Heat 2nd 1:50.24 and Final 8th 1:49.69
Luke Mathews 800m Heat 1st 1:49.37 and Final 1st 1:46.71
Michael Romanin 200m Heat 3rd 21.65 -0.8
Deluca Lawson-Matthew 400m Heat 5th 49.38 and Semi 8th 49.20
Jason Kozica 10000m Walk 9th 45:39.56
Kayla de Bondt 1500m Heat 4th 4:27.41 and Final 9th 4:33.22
Under 20
Conor Fry 400m Hurdles Heat 1st 53.39 and Final 1st 52.91
Under 18
Phil Borg 200m Heat 5th 22.38s, 400m Heat 4th 50.63s
Will Lewis 800m Heat 1:55. 1500m Heat 7th 4:01.61 and Final 11th 4:01.45
Under 17
Massimo Acquaro 100m Heat 8th 11.43 +1.7 and 200m Heat 4th 22.94s -0.8
Josh Collins 3000m Final 17th 9:21.20
Tristan Day 3000m Final 3rd 9:00.03
Under 16
Thomas Scroggie 800m Heat 5th 2:03.07 and Final 8th 2:03.83. 2000m Steeplechase Final 9th 6:39.79
Isabelle Collins 3000m Final 18th 10:49.53
Under 15
Luca Di Conza 3000m Final 10th 9:49.82
Matthew Kim 200m Hurdles Heat 3rd 30.27 +0.1 and Final 4th 29.37s
Daniel Doyle 100m Heat 5th 11.91s and 200m Heat 5th 24.22s +0.0
Under 14
Jett-Paris Bedelis Pole Vault 4th 1.80m
Lauren McGarry Hammer 5th 32.31 and Shot Put 14th 9.30m
In oppressive conditions at Homebush Stadium for distance running, Tristan Day has capped a super season with his first individual National track medal, finishing in 3rd place in the Under 17 3000m in 9:00.03.
Josh Collins, also enjoying a stellar season finished in 17th spot in 9:21.20.
SKC student Matthew Hussey (and Western Athletics member) won the race in a super impressive 8:50.57.
Well done lads.
It was one of the club’s most mythical records. Created during imperial measurement and well before electronic timing was even thought of.
Rob McGuiness has stood atop the list of SKAAC 400m Hurdlers, many have tried and come agonisingly close. Conor gave it a huge crack last year and an even huger crack in his heat of the Under 20 400m Hurdles yesterday.
Well at about 3:31pm today…the record was laid to rest after 55 years, in sensational fashion by Conor Fry in securing the National Under 20 title in a slashing time of 52.91.
It was a super effort by Conor and his team (Dan Bailey, Steve Fabris & Justin Rinaldi) to get Conor into the shape he now finds himself in.
What was also fantastic to see was the number of SKAAC members on hand to witness such a grand run, and the excitement everyone shared with Conor’s win.
