Sport
Page 20 The Moorabool News – 15 March, 2022
Email - news@themooraboolnews.com.au
Bacchus Marsh Little Athletics The Centre held a twilight meet last Friday evening with all athletes participating in 4 events for the competition. Then over the weekend 17 athletes represented the Centre at the State Track & Field Championships at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park. Bacchus Marsh Centre had a very successful Championships claiming 7 medals – 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze. On Day 1 of competition Bridie Shanahan threw a massive PB of 11.37 metres in the Girls Under 16 Shot Put to win the Centre’s first medal, Silver. Under 9 athlete Skyla Berryman, in her first State Track & Field competition, stormed home in the 70 metres to pip her competitors on the line and claim the State Gold medal. Skyla then backed up later in the day over the 200 metres. Skyla eased her way through the first 100 metres before powering off the bend, displaying her dominating speed over the last 100, to win her second Gold medal, finishing in a time of 32.58 seconds. Day 2 saw the Banigo brothers line up in the 100m timed finals in the morning of competition. Elliot dominated his heat to place 1st. Elliot’s time placed him 2nd overall, claiming the State Under 11 Silver medal. Nelson then lined up in heat 3 of the Boys Under 13 event, which included a hot field of competitors all vying for an inclusion in the Victorian ALAC team. Nelson was quick out the blocks and held his form for the entire race, crossing the line in 3rd place, winning the Bronze medal in a time of 12.10 seconds. Skyla Berryman, in her third event for the weekend, took on the best in the State in heat 3 of the Girls Under 9 100 metres. Skyla battled hard throughout the race and in a tight finish crossed the line in 3rd place to win her third State medal. The afternoon competition included the hurdle events. Nicholas Ide was determined to improve on his qualifying region result and did not disappoint as he glided across all flights of hurdles to place 3rd in a time of 12.94 seconds and take the Bronze medal. All 17 BMLAC athletes produced outstanding results and proudly represented the Centre at State Level. BMLAC state results G16 200m: Emma Smith 29.25 (13th); 400m: Emma Smith 63.87 (7th); 300m Hurdles: Danielle Ide 52.19 (6th); Discus: Bridie Shanahan 26.63m (9th);
Shot Put: Bridie Shanahan 11.37m (2nd); Triple Jump: Bridie Shanahan 10.56m (4th); G15 200m: Emma Stewart 29.56 (19th); 90m Hurdles: Emma Stewart 17.41 (15th); Long Jump: Emma Stewart 4.44m (13th); G14 200m: Mackenzie Estlick 27.85 (9th); 1500m: Mackenzie Estlick 5:59.58 (9th); Javelin: Mackenzie Estlick 15.86m (17th); G11 High Jump: Myah Estlick 1.15m (12th); Long Jump: Myah Estlick 3.73m (11th); G10 70m: Halo Arahanga 11.33 (16th); G09 70m: Skyla Berryman 11.07 (1st); Scarlett Wake 12.43 (22nd); 100m: Skyla Berryman 15.50 (3rd); 200m: Skyla Berryman 32.58 (1st); 60m Hurdles: Scarlett Wake 12.13 (15th); Discus: Scarlett Wake 10.01m (21st); High Jump: Skyla Berryman DNS; B15 Discus: Matthew Elefterescu 36.24m (7th); Javelin: Matthew Elefterescu 27.16m (12th); Shot Put: Matthew Elefterescu 9.49m (11th); B14 High Jump: Alex Lloyd 1.55m (6th); Long Jump: Alex Lloyd 4.40m (19th); B13 100m: Nelson Banigo 12.10 (3rd); 200m: Nelson Banigo 25.96 (4th); 80m Hurdles: Nicholas Ide 12.94 (3rd); 200m Hurdles: Nicholas Ide 31.02 (10th); Triple Jump: Nicholas Ide 9.76m (10th); B12 80m Hurdles: Nicholas Mai 13.44 (6th); Javelin: David Elefterescu NM; B11 100m: Elliot Banigo 13.98 (2nd); 200m: Elliot Banigo 29.40 (7th); B10 70m: Harrison Lovett 10.91 (12th); 200m: Harrison Lovett 31.73 (15th); Discus: Harrison Lovett 16.72m (22nd).
This Saturday the Centre competition will commence with invited representatives from each age group participating in the Bacchus Marsh Community Bank Gift. Athletes will be handicapped using their season’s best 100m results. There will be a Girls and Boys 100m Gift. Shields will be presented to the winners of each gift, with sashes awarded to the top 3 placegetters. At the conclusion of the gift all athletes will commence program 3 of competition. This is the final meet prior to the Centre Championships to be held on Saturday 26th March at Masons Lane Reserve.
Skyla Berryman won three State medals. Photo - submitted
Mighty mare Jets into Triple Crown contention By Tim O'Connor (HRV) It required something special and that’s what star squaregaiter Im Ready Jet produced to win a classic edition of the Hygain La Coocaracha Trotters Free For All at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night. After settling last in the small field of five over the 2240m trip, the Anton Golinotrained mare reeled off a scorching individual last half of 55.28sec to haul in early leader Vacation Hill (Andy Gath/ Kate Gath) and hold off stablemate Hopeful Beauty (Josh Duggan), who flashed home to grab second at big odds. The victory, in a mile rate of 1:59.3min, was the five-year-old’s 18th from 39 starts and lifted her earnings up over $370,000. “She's the best trotter I've driven all round,” driver Jason Lee said. “She's got such great attributes. She can do work, she can lead, she can come from behind like that when really things weren’t run to suit and when it gets into a dog fight, she can still put her head out and win,” he said. “Yabby Dam (Farms) have done a great job and had some really nice horses over the years, but this one might be the best of them.” After missing the opening race of the series, the victory took Im Ready Jet to second on the Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares Triple Crown standings heading into the third and final leg on March 26. Despite only managing fourth in the La Coocaracha, David Aiken-trained Aldebaran Crescent remains at the top of the leaderboard, two points clear of Im Ready Jet and Vacation Hill.
A $20,000 bonus is payable to the owner if a horse wins all three legs of the Kerryn Manning Trotting Mares Triple Crown, with a $10,000 prize on offer for the leading points scorer through the series (1st - 8 points, 2nd - 5 points, 3rd - 3 points, 4th - 2 points and 5th - 1 point). LEADERBOARD 10 Aldebaran Crescent 8 Im Ready Jet 8 Vacation Hill 6 Hopeful Beauty 3 Swiss Miss, Lucinda Mac *** Earlier in the night, all eyes were on Andy Gath’s new Kiwi import Chinese Whisper but it wasn’t the Australian debut he, wife Kate and owner Norm Jenkin had hoped for. He galloped away at the start and lost all hope as an odds-on favourite in the Aldebaran Park Trot. The mistake changed the complexion of the race and it was in-form mare Majestical Belle that ultimately capitalised. Chris Alford quickly sent the five-year-old to the front and that’s where she stayed, staving off the challengers in the straight to score her sixth career win from 30 starts. And the result continued a stunning run for Rockbank trainer Fred Spiteri, who has now prepared six winners from just 21 starters in season 2022. The triumph was the first in a double for Alford, who also prevailed aboard Kissmelvis for Wayne Potter.
Tabcorp Park Saturday 12 March Race 4 Winner: Im Ready Jet (6). Trainer: Anton Golino. Driver: Jason Lee. Photo Stuart McCormick
Tabcorp Park Saturday 12 March Race 2 Winner: Majestical Belle (4). Trainer: Fred Spiteri. Driver: Chris Alford. Photo Stuart McCormick