BENDIGO University's decision to use the PowerPlay meant it led division four in the latest round of Athletics Victoria Shield League action.
University scored 10,507 in last Saturday's round of track and field action hosted by Flack Advisory Bendigo Region at the La Trobe University Bendigo athletics complex in Flora Hill.
The Uni line-up was fourth in the standings, but double points meant it earned the maximum tally of 14 in the season's eighth round.
In Premier Division, South Bendigo scored 25,490 to be fifth in the latest round of competition where Essendon used its PowerPlay to strengthen its position on the top rung.
Eaglehawk racked up 24,124 points to be fourth in division two where Nunawading, 27,228; and Eureka, 25,505, were best in a hotly-contested round.
The PowerPlay by the Ballarat-based Eureka earned the maximum 18 points.
Among the many highlights of the Bendigo round was the running of the Ern Hammer Memorial 3000m classic.
The Ben Stolz Myotherapy-backed race drew 25 starters, of which 17 were in the University Pride colours.
Race honours went to South Bendigo's Isabel Nihill in a time of 13:04 as University's Luke Millard, 10:20, and Bendigo Harriers' Jill Wilkie, 11:57, were next across the line.
Other athletes to impress were South Bendigo's Bernard Nihill, 10:40; Bendigo Harriers' veteran Anne Buckley, 12:24, and University's David Lonsdale, 12:07.
In the sprints action, Abbey Conquer, from Bendigo Harriers, again marked a 100m and 200m double.
Eaglehawk's Kye Mason won the first of the men's 100m heats in 11.64 seconds.
Jamie Harrison, from Glenhuntly, clocked a brilliant time of 22.82 to win the 200m heat against Hawks' clubmates Mason, 22.99, and Angus McKindlay, 23.80, and South Bendigo's Jake Hilson, 23.86.
The in-form Michael Preece marked another 800m victory in a 2:03.90 ahead of Jake Hilson, 2:12, and Eaglehawk's Kenan Seebah, 2:16.
Joseph Baldwin capped a return to LUBAC by winning the first flight of high jump.
Now competing with Melbourne University, Baldwin cleared 2.05m.
Best at triple jump were Eaglehawk trio Alec Colturi, 11.75m; Angus McKindlay, 11.21; and Sam Storer, 11.06; and South Bendigo's Abbey Hromenko, 10.34.
Discus was again dominated by Bendigo Harriers young guns Logan Sandland, 40.17; Jake Gavriliadis, 39.79m, and Alex Pitt, 34.12m.
Sandland's afternoon began with a mark of 53.69m at hammer as Eaglehawk's Olivia Graham, 45.77m, performed well.
It will be a night-time event when Flack Advisory Bendigo Region's track and field season resumes on January 11.
First event on the track will be sprint hurdles from 6pm at LUBAC in Retreat Road.
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