Sport/PE

April/May Sporting News

School Cross Country

Our annual School Cross Country took place on Thursday 30th April, once again held at Lake Hamilton, where pleasingly we were greeted by pleasant weather conditions for our runners. Our event is staged as a handicap event, all students in girls event starting at the same time, with 9 year olds running 2000m, 10 year olds run 2075m, 11 year olds run 2150m and 12/13 year olds run 2225m. The same structure then takes place for our boys event.

Each year we acknowledge the overall first male and first female runners across the line as our Gray Street Cross Country Champions, who this year is awarded to:

· Girls Champion – Camilla Robertson

· Boys Champion – Henry Wark

Camilla and Henry were presented with a medal to acknowledge their achievement as the overall School Cross Country Champion – well done to both runners!

We also acknowledge children who place in the top 3 of their respective age groups, with the winners receiving an Age Group Champion Medal, and second and third place receiving a ribbon. These achievements were acknowledge and presented at our assembly last week to the following students:

A special mention to Victoria who ran extremely well but unfortunately was ineligible to compete at the next level of competition due to being in the 8 Years age group category.

This year we introduced a designated ‘Walkers Group’ to better cater for students who may not have been able to, or weren’t confident about participating in a running event. Our walkers set off first and then crossed the line a short time later with big smiles on their faces, proud to have participated and completed the course.

Hamilton District Sports Association (HDSA) Cross Country

The following Thursday on May 7th, we sent a team of 45 runners to the HDSA Cross Country, also held at Lake Hamilton on a very similar course. Students in the 9 and 10 Year age groups competed over a distance of 2km’s, with students in the 11 and 12 Years age groups running a 3km course. Our athletes ran very well at this higher level of competition, achieving the following overall results:

At the HDSA Cross Country students in the 9 and 10 Year age groups run at the same time, with the first 8 overall from both age groups selected to join the first 8 from each of the 11 and 12 Year age groups, in qualifying to compete at the Warrnambool/Portland/Hamilton Division Cross Country in Warrnambool. Once again, well done to our runners on their achievements.

Warrnambool/Portland/Hamilton Division Cross Country

On Friday 15th May we then had a team of 9 runners compete in the Division Cross Country, held at Reid Oval in Warrnambool with students running either a 2km or a 3km course through the challenging terrain of the Albert Park reserve that backs on to Reid Oval. The standard of competition at this event is extremely high and again our students did extremely well against some superstar athletes. Overall the results of our students were as follows:

Warrnambool/Portland/Hamilton Division Track and Field (Athletics)

On Friday 1st May we sent a team of 20 athletes to Warrnambool for the WPH Division Athletics Championships that were held at Brauerander Park in Warrnambool. Again our athletes were very fortunate with the weather, with some getting the chance to compete at this high-quality venue with a synthetic running track for the very first time!

Our athletes all did extremely well, achieving the following results:

Students who placed in the top 6 of a running event, or top 3 of a field event or relay, have now qualified to compete in the Greater Western Region Athletics Championships. These will be held on October 9th in Ballarat. As highlighted above, we will be sending a field of 14 athletes to this event that is truly an outstanding achievement not only for the individual students, but also our school!

Well done to all students on their achievements.

State Football (AFL) Team Trials

One of our grade 6 students, Harper, has recently been involved in trials for the Victorian Girls’ State Football Team. Harper is a very promising footballer, playing for the Hamilton Kangaroos in the U12 (mixed) and U15 girls football teams this year.

The first round of trials were held in Melbourne last Friday (at Hawthorn’s training ground!) where Harper was successful in progressing to the next level of try-outs. These are being held this Sunday, again at the same venue. Harper’s goal was to make it to the second round of trials, that she has achieved, and we wish her well in the next stage.

Ben Kelson

Sports Coordinator