Since the beginning of 2021 a number of Victory members have been using the opportunities to participate in events involving competition towards achieving goals. These events mainly centre around track running and triathlons and are certainly worthy of reporting their highlights.
Starting with our most experienced running member, very keen masters athlete Cristine Suffolk. Crissy is a very good advocate for Victory Runners as she hasn’t allowed her severe hearing impairment to hinder what she loves doing most, which is competing in middle distance events including 2k steeple chase. Since January, her highlights are 5 Silver medals from NSW Masters & Country T&F Championships. Two new Age Records (50 – 54yrs) at Kembla Joggers Summer comp. at Dapto.
Our newest member, Lauren Johnson from Ulladulla, was a top schoolgirl sprinter and loved running. Now in her mid 30’s with a career, marriage and 3 young children she has decided to make a comeback. Her highlights are very impressive! In a very short time frame since her first 100m & 200m sprint at Athletics NSW High Velocity meet in January at The Ridge Athletics centre where she placed 14th out of 53 competitors in 100m and 11th out of 44 in the 200m. She has competed at Canberra Open State and NSW Open State Championships making it to the semis at both meets. To her credit, on three occasions she has run the 100m qualifying time, enabling her to enter and compete at the Australian T&F Championships in Sydney during April.
Next on the list is Troy Whittington whose first priority is triathlon. He is also a very competitive middle-distance runner and enjoys cross country in the off season. Troy’s highlights include two top results. In the Hobart short distance he placed 7th late February in a very close finish with only 1 second behind 1st place. His next competition was in the longer distance Mooloolaba Triathlon on 13th March. He placed 3rd in U/20 and 6th overall. Once again it was a tight finish with only 2 seconds separating the top 6 places.
Our teenage sprinter we are very proud of is Laylah Connelly. Laylah’s highlight was very recent. Competing in the U/16 200m & 400m at the State Junior Championships in Sydney she placed 4th in the 400m Final. Unfortunately, due to very wet conditions she did not compete in the 200m final late on Sunday. Laylah still has the State LA’s and the Australian Junior Championships to contest shortly.
Our youngest sprinter is 12 year old Lexie Burinaga. Lexie’s highlight was competing in her very first County T&F Championship at Mingara on the Central Coast in February. For her efforts she was awarded the Silver medal for Long Jump and the Bronze in High Jump and 200m.
Teenager Hailey D’Ombrain, despite an injury late in 2020, her highlight has been the opportunity to compete and build up fitness again. Her first event was the 3000m at Illawarra Track Classis in January. Hailey also competed at Country T&F in Mingara and won the Silver medal in the U16 3000m. She has also qualified to compete at Australian Juniors in the 2k Steeple Chase in April. Running over hurdles, jumping the water jump is a tough event and not for everyone, but Hailey certainly has the ability to cope with this.
Not to be outdone by the girls our 13 year old male competitor, Joel Harlor has been very active and achieving some excellent results since January. Joel’s highlights include several PB’s in his favourite events ranging from 3k, the mile, 1500m & 800mts. His most recent goal was reached on Saturday 13th. at the State Junior Championships when he was awarded the Silver medal for the U/14 Boys 1500m. Joel also will be contesting the Australian Juniors next month.
Next on our participation list is 12 year old Evie Hill whose highlight also involves the Steeple Chase event over 1500m for her age. She competed in this at the ACT State Championships in February and placed second in her age category winning the Silver Medal.
Last, but by no means least our participation highlights involve Laura & Irwin Burbage and family who spent some time on the North Coast and visited Port Macquarie on Saturday 6th March for the Running Festival.
They entered 7 year old Layla, 6 year old Cailin and 4 year old Jai in their age category 3k Fun Run. Layla won her category finishing in an excellent time of 15:30, Cailin was 3rd in her category out of 42 contestants and four year old Jai came in 2nd in his category.
“VICTORY CONGRATULATES these members for participating to achieve such a variety of Highlights.
For some interesting photographs of participants, please check out the GALLERY.
Willandra Open Day 13th March 2021
Despite bright sunshine and a very humid afternoon for autumn weather, close to seventy adults and children attended the Open Day at Willandra. Please accept our thanks for your interest and attendance
A big thank you to Brooklyn Henry assisted by Sharon Creer for conducting a very interesting and enjoyable coaching session for our youngsters. Due to popularity and request, next Saturday, 20th March we will conduct another session at 2.30pm for any who may be interested.
Appreciation to our committee members for various tasks of instruction and guidance around the course and at the finish and recording area.
However, a very BIG than you to Faye & Henry Suffolk for volunteering to cook and prepare the sausage sizzle for walkers and runners as they finished their activity.
WEATHER: Should there be torrential rain on the course making it extremely dangerous to use on any Saturday, a message of cancellation will be posted on our website home page. This is the only reason we cancel the activity!!
Because it is an autumn / winter activity running or walking in the rain is possible However our wise advice is: Always pack a change of clothes!! During the 1970’s when the winters were quite wet, the common saying for Saturday cross country was: The wetter, the better!
Looking forward to Saturday’s activity of walking or running. Arrival at Willandra 2.30pm for a 3pm start.
Interested, or first timers, families & individuals very welcome.
1k Distance
| Name | Time |
| Charles Megher | 5.44 |
| Jai Dubois | 6.15 |
| Tori Jones | 6.29 |
| Phoebe Armstrong | 6.41 |
| Scott Armstrong | 6.41 |
| Nicki Wilson | 6.46 |
| Brooke Dubois | 7.10 |
| Alison Dubois | 7.31 |
| Melissa Jones | 8.15 |
| Hati Hawthorn | 9.03 |
| Eliza Hawthorn | 9.04 |
| Matilda Hole | 9.04 |
| Jack Davis | 15.05 |
| Jenna Davis | 15.06 |
| Charlie Wells-Smith | 16.33 |
2k Distance
| Name | Time |
| Airlie Stevens | 9.47 |
| Madeline Oke | 10.02 |
| Samson Hole | 10.46 |
| Callum Armstrong | 11.03 |
| Jordan Sauvao | 11.09 |
| Jaida French | 11.20 |
| Tori Hill | 11.25 |
| Imogene Curtis | 12.56 |
| Matt Dubois | 13.21 |
| Kylie Oke | 13.28 |
| Ava Jones | 13.41 |
| Teena Wilson | 13.50 |
| Elsie Moffatt | 14.23 |
| Rory Davis | 14.46 |
| Belinda Curtis | 15.32 |
| Jo Robson | 15.37 |
| Avery Robson | 15.38 |
| Claudia Moffatt | 16.27 |
| Tabitha Hawthorn | 16.28 |
| Charlie Henry | 17.34 |
| Pam Henry | 17.35 |
| Hudson Brown | 17.37 |
| Anthony Corsaro | 17.41 |
| Lucas Corsaro | 17.41 |
| Abigail Doyle | 21.01 |
| Lillian Corsaro | 22.30 |
| Farrah Brown | 24.40 |
| Leonardo Corsaro | 24.51 |
| Sofia Corsaro | 25.18 |
3k Distance
| 3k Distance | |
| Aiden Spicer | 13.59 |
| Matilda Schilko | 14.46 |
| Nick Schilko | 14.47 |
| Lexie Burinaga | 15.13 |
| Roz Matthews | 18.33 |
4k Distance
| Name | Time |
| Cameron Harrison | 17.25 |
| Cristine Suffolk | 19.46 |
| Emma Stevens | 22.17 |
| David Hill | 22.43 |
| Anthony Russell | 23.06 |
| Natasha Spicer | 24.44 |
| Doug Jeffrey | 31.38 |
| Paul Jennings | 31.40 |
3k Walk
| Name | Time |
| Evie Hill | 31.56 |
| Carla Hill | 31.57 |
4k Walk
| Name | Time |
| Tomas Leszczynski | 47.53 |
| Griffin Leszczynski | 47.54 |
| Michael Hindmarsh | 48.35 |
| Erica Nelson | 48.55 |
| Judy Hindmarsh | 48.55 |
| Helen Redenbach | 51.17 |
| Robert Redenbach | 52.00 |