FLACK Advisory Bendigo Region teams were in great form at Saturday’s start to Athletics Victoria’s cross-country series at Jells Park.
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Bendigo was a top three placegetter in four of the relay events it contested.
Promoted to division three after capturing the division five premiership last season, Bendigo dominated the teams relay event on the Wheelers Hill course.
Andy Buchanan led off the charge and achieved a brilliant time of 17.16 in the 6km leg.
Brady Threlfall, 18.20; Archie Reid, 19.18; Kye Jenkyn, 20.10; and Matt Heislers, 21.26; all played their part in Bendigo’s winning time of 1:36.30.
Runner-up was Western Athletics in 1:45.49 from Mornington Peninsula in 1:48.18 in a field of 12 teams.
The experienced Buchanan and Threlfall represent University and Bendigo Harriers respectively and have racked up many wins and fast times on the track, roads, or cross-country circuits.
Reid is one of South Bendigo’s young guns, and University clubmates Jenkyn and Heislers have a lot of ability.
In division six, Bendigo clocked a time of 1:28.41 in the 4 x 6km legs to be runner-up.
Matt Hooke ran the opening leg in 21.08 and was follow2ed by Daniel Plowright, 22.41; Glenn McMillan, 21.43; and Rossi Evans, 23.09.
The all-Bendigo Harriers team of Alice Wilkinson, 25.16; Anne Buckley, 26.58; and Melinda Gilligan, 35.32; was ninth in women’s division four in a time of 1:27.46.
An overall time of 1:42.32 earned Bendigo third place in division seven men behind Victoria Cross Country League and Melbourne University (1).
The Bendigo squad was Isaac Everett, 24.20; Brett Gilligan, 25.04; David Heislers, 25.59; and Leigh Browell, 27.09.
Cross-country action is back at Jells Park next Saturday when the Victorian All Schools championships are run.
Round two in Athletics Victoria XCR series is on May 5 at St Anne’s Winery in Myrniong.
