Western Athletics runner Amy Cashin (centre) started her race but was forced to pull out. 83155_01 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By MICHAEL ESPOSITO
SEVERAL Western Athletics runners are in contention for a Victorian cross country title.
Thomas Rebesco jumped up to fourth on the XCR 12 Cross Country leaderboard with a second placing in the Under 14 men 4km race, in round five of the series at Brimbank Park on 23 June.
It’s the second time he has been runner-up this season, and will need to win the last race of the series at Burnley on 2 September to have a chance of taking out the title.
Rebesco is one of four Western Athletics boys in the top eight of the under 14 category – the others being Kirk Shanahan, Cristiaan Weitsz and Matthew Hussey.
Amy Cashin was forced to pull out of the Under 20 women’s 4km event, but still holds second spot. Melbourne University’s Rosie Donegan won the event and is now one point ahead of Cashin, who finished first and second tin her previous two cross country races.
In what looks like a two-horse race, Cashin and Donegan will battle it out for the state title over the next two races, at Bundoora Park on 21 July and at Burnley in September.
Rochelle Kennedy finished seventh in the Under 18 women’s 6km at Brimbank to hold on for third place overall, while club team-mate Claire Hodgart finished a season best fifth to jump up to eighth, one point behind former teammate Courtney Scott, who now runs for Ballarat.
Callum Drake did not compete at Brimbank Park but sits in second spot in the Under 20 men’s category, having won his previous three races. A first or second at Bundoora Park will guarantee a state title, as only the best four performances from the five events are counted.
Carolyn Huell sits atop the women’s 45-49 leaderboard.
Coburg Harriers runner Amelia Mazza-Downie, who lives in Kingsville, is the clear stand-out in the Under 14 women’s category, and claimed her third victory in the 4km race last weekend.
