 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Round 2 saw a temporary women's team manager and a new men's management structure running around a bit like headless chicken's last night. Lucky most of you athletes have a pretty good idea how it all works. Somehow it has been left to I, the webdude, to deliver both match reports today (as well as one for AV). So here goes...
Andre's Women's Team report:
Team sheets are a funny thing. Matt telephones his little heart out all week and emails me a list of names and numbers. I format the document and give a copy up to the commentary booth. But in the end it's just a wish list. The "or"s turn into "nor"s surprisingly quickly. Names are wishfully added and others ruefully crossed out. But in the end folks put their hands up, people turn up who noone could get a phonecall through to, and we get a whole lot of very good athletes out on the track. So anyway...
The night kicked off very well for us. Megan Peters wandered up to me and said "I'm walking"... and she did and scored a some very valuable points. New recruit from WA Kylie Reed pulled on a Bayside top for the first time and ran a strong 12.59 for 3rd in the first of the 100m. And a manager is always happy when the athlete then says "I need more race practice". Katrina Steward battled a migraine to sprint to victory 12.61s in heat 2. On a day when a whole lot of sprinters didn't qualify due to strong headwinds, these efforts were extremely valuable to our final score.
Over at the triple jump, the queen of smiling Jeanette Bowles continued on her very winning way with a big 40 cm pb. All that training has really paid off and that 12.11m leap will put pressure on anyone else looking for the triple spot. Also back jumping is Tessa Densley who was rapt with her 1.70m effort in the high jump. And Viv Potiris was a big points scorer in the Pole with a win.
It was great to see three Bayside tops galloping around in the 1500m, not least because we were shocked to find that many in our depleted uniform bag. Katie Seibold looked strong yet again as did Helen Montgomery and junior Belinda Hogan.
Steepling is definitely the coolest thing to do on a Thursday night and our revelation from last year's finals Stef Puszka was back and 20 seconds faster last night. Auditions for the other steepling spot will be held at interclub real soon.
Hurdling is like steepling, except we can't find a hurdler. Anyone with two legs and some free time should come and chat to Matt or I on Saturday and we'll pencil you in on our next team sheet.
400m running is never easy. It proved so hard last night that our list of three runners had dwindled to one by the time they said "on your marks". With Katrina's head on ice and Claire Gough looking rather green after a relay, a warm up and too few M&Ms, it was left to Bayside debutant Carina Weymouth-Wilson to take our no.1 spot. This 14-year-old dynamo did us proud, holding on down the straight for 5th.
Our throwers are wonderful of course. Gabrielle Neighbour won hammer yet again as did Bec Neilsen in the Shot Put. Tash De Neise was second in jav while Boyesey's knee survived the physio and discus for third place.
So "where'd we finish?" you ask. "Oh so close?" I say. We were leading early on, but our lack of hurdlers etc hurt us. Ultimately we were knocked over by 2 points.
Andre puts on his men's hat:
With Jussie between jobs (and computers) at the moment I'll have to tell you what the blokes got up to too.
Walkers we have none. Sprinters we had two. Justin Lewis won yet again, clocking 11.10 into a stinking headwind. Arnold Pamphlis also got up for a victory in 11.33. A third 100m runnner would be nice. Have a chat to Matt or Cathy Woodruff about your availability as they are taking responsibility for managing the sprinters and jumpers.
Speaking of which, we are also light on for vaulters and high jumpers at the moment. Points are going a-begging. Qualifying heights are 3.60 and 1.80. We did have a very good triple jumper last night in Matt Cooter who produced a 14.26 leap for victory.
1500m was the event-de-jeur last night with speedy times all over the place. Clint Perrett stepped into the No.1 position and ran a 3 second PB in a time of 3.52.6. Bring on that 3k at Zatopek. New middle distance and distance Manager Tim Crosbie raced around in 4.03.2 while Neil Brennan teased the qualifying time with a casual 4.04.6.
Liam Wallis jogged across the line but still won the high hurdles in 16.17s, while alas we had no steeplers. Talk to Tim if you reckon you good jumping over water.
There was a shock in the throws as Dave McCaffrey's 15 week unbeaten record was finally broken. See what happens when you start a new job! Aaron Neighbour pulled out his "1" number and lived up to it with a put of 17.40 metres. His 53.09 discus throw beat Matt Brown 52.00 but Matty scored the points in a cunning ploy to avoid paying for an invite (and assure finals qualification).
So the night came to a close. Singlets were exchanged so that our 400m runners wouldn't be nude and two new faces were introduced around. Sean Sacher broke his Bayside cherry with a 49.26s victory and Ash Mildenhall was equally impressive in 49.82 for first in the second heat. The pressure was on Brenno to keep up with the new boys and score us a clean sweep. And who would have thunk he'd prevail in a close fought home straight battle?
So anyway, that's the story. Oh and the 400m heroics got us home by 6 points.
Next week's State League is NOT on Thursday, but rather Saturday the 24th down at Geelong.
Results are here.
Last week's Reports are here.