2017 SMR Regional Track & Field Championships

The Regional Track & Field Championships are over again for another year. This year we returned to Ballam Park, Frankston for the event over the weekend of the 18th and 19th of February, 2017. The weather was very challenging this year with 3 seasons over the 2 days, and none of them summer! Wind, cool temperatures, flooding rain and hail had to be contended with but all events were completed and both days finished around the time they were scheduled to. The weekend was a credit to the SMR Competition Committee and to Frankston LAC - we'd like to thank both groups for again running a great meet.

Mornington LAC had 55 athletes compete over the 2 days. We won a total of 44 medals (5 more than last year): 14 Gold, 14 Silver and 16 Bronze. We finished 5th overall in the SMR medal tally. In addition to this, many PB's were broken, there were heaps of top 8 finishes, and 13 club records fell. All our athletes did their best in the conditions, and were a credit to

themselves, their parents and the club.

Medal winners this year were:

• U9 boy Lachie Atta with 1 silver & 1 bronze

• U9 boy Ocean Shepheard with 1 gold & 2 bronze

• U10 boy Sebastian Farrelly with 3 gold & 1 silver

• U10 boy Jackson Tanner with 1 bronze

• U10 girl Reese Fischer with 1 bronze

• U10 girl Sarai Hughes with 2 silver & 1 bronze

• U10 girl Phoebe Pearce with 1 silver

• U10 girl Declyn Tanner with 2 gold

• U11 boy Oliver Pratt with 1 gold & 1 silver

• U12 boy Noah Allison with 1 bronze

• U12 boy Kohan Bressan with 1 bronze

• U12 boy Jordan Lane with 1 gold & 1 silver

• U13 boy Lachlan Sutherland with 1 bronze

• U13 girl Abbey Brady with 2 bronze

• U13 girl Ella Fischer with 2 gold & 1 silver

• U13 girl Lily Riley with 1 bronze

• U14 boy Oscar Berryman with 1 bronze

• U14 boy Taj Davies with 2 silver

• U15 boy Josh Cottier with 1 silver & 1 bronze

• U15 boy Ky Davies with 2 gold & 1 silver

• U15 boy Joseph Rickard with 2 gold

• U15 boy Connor Yates with 2 silver

• U15 girl Jacinta Lee with 2 bronze

39 of our athletes have progressed to the State Track & Field Championships which are being held at Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park on the weekend of the 11th and 12th of March. Those children are: Noah Allison, Lachie Atta, Louisa & Teddy Banks, Ben & Laura Barrett, Nelson & Oscar Berryman, Abbey Brady, Jemaya, Kohan & Tynan Bressan, Sophie Butterworth, Julian Callahan, Josh Cottier, Charlie Curry, Ky & Taj Davies, Sebastian Farrelly, Fin Fawcett, Ella & Reese Fischer, Claudia Fogarty, Ethan Goding, Sarai Hughes, Jordan Lane, Jacinta Lee, Phoebe Pearce, Oliver Pratt, Ben Priestley, Josie Reichelt, Joseph Rickard, Lily Riley, Ocean Shepheard, Lachlan Sutherland, Declyn & Jackson Tanner, Hamish Terris and Connor Yates. Congratulations to you all. Have a wonderful time at States running on the track that Usain Bolt has recently competed on!!

The club would like to thank those who made the Regional weekend a reality. Many volunteers worked many hours before and during this event to make it happen. Thank you's go to:

• SMR - you were short-handed this year, but you got it done. Thank you to our own SMR members Mark Henry (SMR Competition Coordinator and Assistant Meet Manager) and Trevor Quint (SMR Chief Starter)

• Frankston LAC for again hosting this huge event

• Our Team Manager Paul Davies, and his Assistant Team Managers Julie Burton and Kate Pratt - it's a long few days, so thank you to the huge effort you 3 put in

• Our Key Officials over the weekend - Todd Martin (Chief High Jump), Simon Rickard (Chief Shot Put - Saturday & Jury Convenor - Sunday), & Sue Cook (Jury Convenor - Saturday). Thank you for your time and for recognising these events can't function without parents in these crucial roles.

• Our parents who completed general duties over the 2 days - again, the weekend would grind to a halt without your help filling these roles. We appreciate your efforts.

• And finally to our amazing Mornington LAC athletes. You are the reason we do what we do. We love watching you compete, even if you come last. Medals don't matter, giving it a go is what counts. We love watching you cheer on your friends, even those from different centres. Keep on trying your best.

So MLACer's, thank you for another amazing weekend. YOU ALL are the reason our club is so amazing. Don't forget to check out the photos on Facebook.

GO MLAC!!