Sullivan On The Double And Mara Slithers Through St Anne’s Grass

By Brian Marantelli 5 June 2019

Heather Sullivan travelled to Pakenham to win the first of this season’s virtual 5km parkrun events. These events, conducted at any parkrun venue in Australia, are open to all VCCL members, with each venue graded for its degree of difficulty. Heather, in her second Victorian Cross Country League season, defeated Natalie Densley (Altona) by four seconds with Russell Johnson (Portarlington) in third place. The fastest time was run by Matt Grant at Diamond Creek with a time of 17:18. Heather is racing extremely well this season and, when not competing with the VCCL, is a parkrun regular with her home base being Inverloch.

To prove her first win was no fluke, Heather then contested the Annual Rendina Family 5km at Warringal Park the following weekend and completed a double. This time the margin was only three seconds from Tony Moran and Julian Harris. The fastest time of the day was recorded by Alex Bacalja with a run of 17:33. The VCCL thank Tony and Charlene Rendina who have been valuable members and sponsors of the Victorian Cross Country League for several decades.

Michael Marantelli known in some circles as “Snake” by many of his less than reputable running mates enjoyed last weekend off from his umpiring duties and duly collected the prize at St Anne’s. The Athletics Victoria event was conducted over a tough and slippery 8km course that involved four laps of the hilly St Anne’s Winery. Michael deciding that as the AFL wouldn’t be sending his weekly cheque, the VCCL needed to fill the income void. Marantelli had a fourteen second margin to spare over Carl Kennedy and Daniel Lawlor. Michael’s time of 26:20 was the fastest of the VCCL athletes and twenty second overall in the Athletics Victoria competition.

The VCCL scored well in the AV event with a second in division three and a win in division six. The Women’s team gained valuable points in finishing seventh under trying conditions.

This weekend members are encouraged to compete at any of the parkrun venues, just registering the VCCL as their club.

The following Saturday (June 15^th) we compete in the Athletics Victoria competition at Bundoora Park. The events for VCCL runners commence at 12:55 (Men under 20s), 1:35 (Women), 2:35 (Open Men and Open Masters).

The following week (June 22^nd) is the AV Ekiden relays at Anglesea.

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