There is a huge 11 strong SKAAC contingent going to Nationals in Sydney from 31 March 2016 to 3 April 2016. Representing themselves, their families, their state and our great club will be:-

• Joel Bee (100m & 200m likely)
• Peter Bol (1500m)
• Jack Holden (1500m)
• Dylan Johnson (Triple Jump)
• Jason Kozica (10km Walk)
• Deluca Lawson-Matthew (400m)
• Luke Mathews (800m & 1500m)
• Sam McEntee (1500m & 5000m)
• Zach Nelson (Long Jump)
• Michael Romanin (100m)
• Alex Rowe (800m)

The Committee and all at SKAAC wish these 11 outstanding athletes all the best for the Nationals as they chase not only medals, but also qualifying performances for the Rio Olympic Games.

Go SKAAC

 

Flying the club colours in Perth have been Conor Fry, Phil Borg, Will Lewis & Thomas Scroggie.

Phil ran a PB in the Under 17 200m Heats (22.93) but unluckily missed the final due to a fast heat, costing him a place in the final.

Conor ran 56.00 in the Under 20 400m Hurdles to qualify for the final as 4th fastest. We wish Conor all the best in the final on Saturday at 1:10pm Perth time.

Will Lewis ran the Under 17 800m and finished 5th in his heat in 1:58.98 to narrowly miss the final as the 11th fastest qualifier.

Thomas Scroggie finished in 8th place in the Under 15 2000m Steeplechase on 7:00.30, so close to his PB.

Phil Borg also has the 100m heats (& hopefully final) on Sunday.

 

There are sometimes in our sport where moments are defined and remembered for the magnitude of the achievement. And so it was on Saturday night when “Australia’s up-and-coming” middle distance talent, Luke Mathews claimed an 800m PB and importantly an A-Qualifier for the Rio Olympic Games in August in running a great race in 1:45.16 in finishing a strong second behind Olympic Champion and World Record Holder, David Rudisha a the Melbourne World Challenge.

There were plenty of SKAAC members on hand at Lakeside Stadium to support our three 800m starters at the Melbourne World Track challenge. Alex Rowe having his second race for the season finished 5^th in 1:47.48 showing solid improvement from his 1:48.39 in Adelaide. Peter Bol running a brave race in the famous SKAAC colours, was on the pace for the first lap and three-quarters finished in 1:49.22. The 800m at the Nationals in Sydney in a few weeks will no doubt be one of the great races for athletics purists.

In the final race for the night was Sam McEntee in the 5000m. Has there been anyone in Australian Athletics in recent memory that has performed at such a high level, as Sam has on the 2016 Australian Circuit, with little or no fanfare? Well judging by his 13:33.73 on Saturday night (9 seconds quicker than his run at the Briggs Classic in Hobart) this is about to change and change quickly. He is well set, has some great Australian competition striving for the A-qualifier of 13:24.00, and certainly the top end speed as evidenced by his super run in the Victorian mile championship to be a chance to join Luke on the plane to Rio.

Get excited as in Luke Mathews, the club has it’s first ever Olympic qualified athlete and still plenty more chances for our other elite athletes to join him.

 

Go SKAAC.

Never once in the 70+ years history of the club, and then twice in the same race. That is the summary of an extraordinary night of racing at the Miler’s Club meet held at Melbourne University Track on 23 February 2016.

There is something mystical about the mile, that had the potential to be lost in the move to the metric system in 1966, but coveted so dearly by those who love athletics still, especially when an athlete is able to break the 4:00.00 minute barrier.

Until last night no SKAAC athlete had been able to break that magical 4:00.00 minute barrier. We certainly have had the talent to achieve the feat in years past, but with the distance sadly raced so sparingly, Simon Lewin’s 4:02.XX had stood for nearly 18 years exactly as the club’s fastest ever mile.

SKAAC’s Luke Mathews and Sam McEntee, both wearing the famous SKAAC colours, staged an intriguing battle with the Victorian Mile title going to Luke Mathews in an incredible 3:56.7, with Sam second in 3:59.0. To have a quinella in such a big race is just reward for Luke and Sam and the training they have completed over the last 12 months and also to their coach Nick Bideau. Credit also to Deakin’s Brenton Rowe for also dipping under the 4:00.00 barrier in placing 3^rd.

Luke and Sam are in sensational form and really starting to gather some strong momentum leading up to the Nationals in Sydney in a few weeks.

All at the club should be justifiably proud of these two stellar performances. Well done to Luke & Sam.

Also in action at the Miler’s Club meet was:

Mile (1609m)

Xavier Chapman (4:28.7)

Paris Street (4:43.6) Under 17, 18, 19 & 20 Club Record

Dino Imbriano (4:56.9) 40+ Club Record

Andrew Thomas (4:59.4)

Lincoln Mah (5:19.7)

Jeremy Moore (5:23.0)

800m

Steve Fabris (1:56.8) Massive PB!!

Will Lewis (1:58.1) PB

Nick O’Halloran (2:12.5)

Aaron Little (2:13.7)

Some amazing results from the Victorian Junior Athletics Championships held from 12-14 February 2016 at Lakeside Stadium…

Congratulations to Phil Borg as the Club’s newly crowned State Champion in the Under 17 200m running 23.03. Phil also secured the Bronze in the Under 17 100m in 11.51s

Also congratulations to Conor Fry, Silver medallist in the Under 20 400m Hurdles in a new Under 18, 19 & 20 Club Record of 54.11s and also Bronze medallist in the Under 20 110m Hurdles in 15.46s.

Also great to see Will Lewis pick up a Bronze medal in the Under 17 800m in 1:59.90.

Also picking up a Bronze medal was Thomas Scroggie in the Under 15 2000m Steeplechase in 7:02.15, which was a National Qualifier and also only just over 2 seconds outside the club record held by Anthony McKay.

Club records also broken during the Junior Championships were:

Andrew Mathieson in the Under 13 Shot Put 9.14m

Massimo Acquaro in the Under 16 200m 24.12s in finishing 4th.

Well done to all athletes who competed in the Championships you have done yourselves, coaches and club proud.

A big thanks to Danielle Cain who acted as our designated official for the bulk of the Championships. 🙂

The full set of results for the SKAAC athletes can be seen below:

AV Victorian Junior Championships 12-14 February 2016

Under 14

1500m Angus Down 5:01.72 8^th

Shot Put Andrew Mathieson 9.14m Final 6^th (Under 13 Club Record)

Discus Andrew Mathieson 24.98m Final 8^th

Triple Jump Andrew Mathieson 9.59m Final 12^th

Under 15

1500m Thomas Scroggie 4:50.29 14^th

2000m Steeple Thomas Scroggie 7:02.15 Final 3^rd

Under 16

100m Massimo Acquaro 11.96s Heat 4^th, 11.80s Final 6^th

200m Massimo Acquaro 24.59s Heat 2^nd, 24.12s Final 4^th (Under 15 Club Record)

400m Stefano Mazzocca 57.80s 9^th

3000m Tristan Day 9:25.50 Final 4th

Under 17

100m Phil Borg 11.56s Heat 2^nd, 11.51s Final 3^rd

200 Phil Borg 23.37s Heat 2^nd, 23.03s Final 1^st

800m Will Lewis 2:05.37 Heat 1^st, 1:59.90 Final 3^rd

Under 18

3000m Paris Street 9:39.54 Final 11^th

Under 20

110m Hurdles Conor Fry 15.46s Final 3^rd

400m Hurdles Conor Fry 55.62 Heat 2^nd, 54.11 Final 2^nd (Under 18, 19 & 20 Club Record)

 

 

What a night of racing for SKAAC athletes at the Briggs Athletics Classic in Hobart on 13 February 2016.

Luke Mathews has lowered his 1500m PB by over 3 seconds and in the process created a new Club Record of 3:37.31 in finishing a close second to training partner Ryan Gregson. The previous record was held by SKAAC legend and Life Member, Simon Lewin with 3:40.2. This run follows up Luke’s slashing win over 800m at the Hunter Classic two weeks ago and sets his season up beautifully.

In the 5000m Sam McEntee (13:42.78) won a close race in SKAAC’s second fastest all time performance at the distance and again shows a strong pointer toward his prospects heading toward the National Championships. Also claiming a slice of history was Jack Holden, stopping the clock in 14:42.36 to join the illustrious Top 10 SKAAC 5000m runners of all-time.