SUPERB feats by Andy Buchanan and Jayden Padgham were highlights for Flack Advisory Bendigo Region's athletics teams at Saturday's third round of Athletics Victoria's XCR19 series at Bundoora.
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A great day of cross country action doubled as selection trials for the national XC championships to be run at Kembla Grange in August and the Victorian All Schools XC championships.
In the men's open 10km, Buchanan clocked a time of 30:15.25 to be runner-up to Box Hill's Harry Summers, 30:04.1.
The Buchanan-coached Jayden Padgham powered to an impressive victory in the under-15 4km championship in 12:52.07.
Padgham added a state XC title to the gold medals he won in the under-15 3000m and 2000m steeplechase at this year's national track and field championships run at Sydney's Olympic Park.
In the teams action at Bundoora, Bendigo Region was runner-up in men's division two, just four points adrift of APS United.
The division five men from Bendigo were first on 713 points.
Bendigo put in another great effort to be runner-up in women's division four as Box Hill took honours.
On an individual basis, Brady Threlfall clocked 31:59.35 to be 18th in the men's open as Kye Jenkyn ran 32:53.99 to be 34th.
Other representatives in division two were Nigel Preston, 36:02.73; Stephen Van Rees, 36:04.51; and Mike Bieleny, 37:55.14.
The division five line-up was Ben Stolz, 37:52.52; Lee McCullagh, 39:24.65; Luke Millard, 39:33.19; and Jayson Carter, 40:14.22.
In the men's 40-plus class, Bendigo was 18th overall.
The line-up was Mike Bieleny, 37:55.1; Trevor Kelly, 42:06; and Darren Hartland, 43:21.7.
Bieleny, Kelly, and David Heislers, 43:44.4, combined for Bendigo Region to be fourth in the men's 60-plus category.
Bendigo Region's line-up in women's division four was Bendigo Harriers clubmates Juliet Heah, 46:17.66; and Anne Buckley, 46:59.06; and South Bendigo's Debby Kirne, 51:05.38.
Archie Reid ran the 8km in 26:14.47 to be third in the under-20 showdown.
Round four in XCR19 is on this Saturday when the Anglesea Surf Coast Ekiden Relay is contested.
The Anglesea Surf Coast Ekiden Relay is over the marathon distance of 42.2km and involves teams of runners racing legs of varying distances on the picturesque Great Ocean Road course.
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