LONG-TIME athlete and builder Greg Hilson triumphed in Thursday night's grand final of the Flack Advisory Services Group-backed distance series at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A field of nine ran the 1000m finale to complete a 10-leg series in which heats ranged in distance from 800m, 1000m or 1200m.
Frontmakers John Justice, Justine Babitsch, Nadene Macdonald and Emily Ryan maintained a steady pace across 1 1/2 laps as Greg Hilson, Aaron Norton, Isaac Everett, Jake Rusbridge and Jake Hilson chased.
From a mark of 80 seconds, Greg Hilson charged on to the back straight as the leaders neared the Frank McCaig Stand just seconds after the bell signalled the last lap. At 200m to go it was Macdonald and Ryan in front as Greg Hilson moved to fourth in the contest.
It was Hilson who powered to the lead at less than 100m to go as Everett (83 seconds) and Jake Hilson (101 seconds) were closing fast.
Hilson beat Everett by a second and the middle of Greg and Gina's three children, Jake by just two seconds.
It was Greg's third grand final victory. Previous wins were in 1995-96 and 2014-15.
FASG distance series grand final: Greg Hilson 1.20 mark, 4.26 race time, 3.06 actual time; Isaac Everett 1.23, 4.27, 3.04; Jake Hilson 1.41, 4.28, 2.47 (fastest time); Nadene Macdonald 5, 4.28, 4.23; John Justice 0, 4.29, 4.29; Emily Ryan 10, 4.31, 4.21; Jake Rusbridge 1.37, 4.35, 2.58; Aaron Norton 1.18, 4.42, 3.24; Justine Babitsch 5, 4.45, 4.40.
Meanwhile, record-setting feats by Trudy Haines and Kathryn Heagney were among the highlights of Saturday's non-AVSL meet run by Flack Advisory Services Group-backed Athletics Bendigo Region.
A leap of 1.30 metres by South Bendigo's Haines at high jump set a Centre record for the 50-plus class.
Heagney was in great form as she raced down the finishing straight and also around the Retreat Road complex track.
The Hawks' veteran ran the third of the women's 100m heats in 16.96 seconds to set a 70-plus record.
Later in the afternoon, Heagney contested the 1500m in which completed the tough event in 7:27.61.
A great spring/summer for the Eaglehawk veteran included multiple medals at the country titles run in Ballarat in January, and gold in the 70-plus class at the Victorian multi-event championships in Bendigo.
Haines was the 50-plus champion at the Athletics Victoria and Victorian Masters multi-event titles.
Many other athletes were in fine form at Saturday's meet.
Eaglehawk's David Chisholm ran the 400m in 59.66 and hit a mark of 29.85m at discus.
Father and daughter, Craig and Olivia Graham from Eaglehawk AC reached distances of 26.28m and 24.97m in the discus contest.
After a silver medal-winning performance in the women's open hammer at the state titles, Olivia Graham followed up with a mark of 45.94m on home turf.
Triple jump was taken out by Claire McCay from Bendigo Harriers on 9.60m.
Fastest in the 100m was South Bendigo's Jessica Grigson in 13.96 seconds.
Bendigo Harriers clubmates Charli McInerney and Yvette Palmer won the heats of the women's 400m and clubmate Anne Buckley ran the 1500m in 5:53 to be victorious.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.