FLACK Advisory Bendigo Region is gearing up for a huge weekend of track and field action at the La Trobe University Bendigo athletics complex in Flora Hill.

The ninth round of Athletics Victoria shield competition will be run on Friday from 5pm at LUBAC in Retreat Road.

Athletics Victoria’s and the Australian Masters multi-event championships will be contested across Saturday and Sunday at the Bendigo track.

Because of the forecast temperature of 39 on Saturday, the day one program for the multi-events kicks off at 9.30am.

First events on Sunday are at 9am.

Athletes from many Melbourne-based and country clubs will vie for glory in the 10-discipline decathlon, seven-event heptathlon, or five-event pentathlon.

Leading contenders from Bendigo include reigning world masters 70-plus decathlon champion Geoff Shaw, and Bendigo Harriers’ president Brett Gilligan in the 40-plus class.

South Bendigo’s Chris Timewell will wear the Victorian Masters colours in the 40-plus decathlon, as clubmates Sebastyn Andrea and Trudy Haines contest the under-16 and 45-plus heptathlon respectively.

The multi-event titles will be a great test of mental and physical toughness across a wide range of age groups.

Disciplines in the decathlon are 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, sprint hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1500m.

The championships have drawn competitors from New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.

A highlight of Friday night’s Shield program will be the Ben Stolz Myotheraphy-backed Ern Hammer Memorial 3000m at 7.30pm.

Cash will be awarded to the placegetters and fastest time in the handicap event.

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