UNIVERSITY'S Mike Bieleny and Bendigo Harriers' veteran Anne Buckley were victorious in this year's race for athletes in the Jack Davey 5000m championship.
Bieleny and Buckley led the way to claim the men's and women's titles in the 12 1/2 lap duel on Tuesday night at the Latrobe University Bendigo athletics complex in Retreat Road, Flora Hill.
Fourth in the six-mile, now 10,000m, at the 1950 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, Jack Davey was trackside for another leg of the event which honours his achievements as an athlete and official.
At 91-years-young, Davey takes a keen interest in what's happening in athletics circles.
He is a member of the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year Hall of Fame.
Despite some injury setbacks in recent seasons, Bieleny showed he is still a strong competitor as he ran the 5000m in 18 minutes 21.88 seconds.
Runner-up was Brian Watson, racing on invitation basis in 18:28.24, as University clubmates Andrew Creer and Craig Green were next best in times of 18:44.83 and 19:14.78.
The youngest runner in the field, 12-year-old Thomas McArthur clocked a personal best of 19:21.03 to be fifth overall in another of Flack Advisory Bendigo Region's track classics.
Buckley beat her seed time taken from this season's or last season's racing by 43 seconds as she powered to the line in 21:14.82 to be ninth overall.
Other athletes to lower their seed times in another leg of the Adam Parker Electrical-backed Tuesday Night Series were David Cripps, Aaron Norton, Ross Douglas and Justine Graham.
A field of 20 contested the feature event.
The night's racing included a 3000m run in conjuction with the 5000m duel.
Eaglehawk's Jake Rusbridge charged to the finish in 11:21.09 and reduced his seed time for the 7 1/2 lap event by 13 seconds.
At just 10 years of age, Noah Pedrotti showed he could be one to watch as he clocked 13:17.16 to be runner-up.
Keen youngsters Ebony Woodward and April Wainwright ran times of 13:45 and 14.48 as they led clubmates Melissa Douglas, Lynley McDonald and Poppy Wainwright to the finish.
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