OSCA - CLUBS Athletics
LEFT : WOMEN ' S 4X1500M 40 + VICTORIAN STATE RELAY BRONZE MEDALLISTS – HEATHER DANKS , ANNE MARTIN , KRISTEL JANSSENS , ERROLEEN FUNG . MIDDLE : ALANNA TURNER , GABBY KING , HENRY CURLEWIS ( YEAR 8 ), ANNABEL ATKINS , ALEX STUBBS , AFTER RACING AT THE VIC MILERS . RIGHT PAGE , TOP : THOMAS LINDEMAN ( YEAR 10 ), ALBERT ELSOM ( YEAR 9 ), LACHLAN GUMLEY ( YEAR 10 ), HUGO STUBBS ( YEAR 10 ) BELOW RIGHT : CONOR SULLIVAN ( YEAR 11 ), RORY VIAL – CAPTAIN OF OLD SCOTCH ATHLETICS ( YEAR 12 ), TOM ROACH ( YEAR 10 )
ATHLETIC CLUB MAKES ITS PRESENCE FELT IN TRACK AND FIELD
In a remarkable testament to resilience and community spirit , the Old Scotch Athletic Club ( OSAC ) bounced back to a higher grade with a stellar 2023 / 24 summer Athletics Victoria Shield League season .
We started the season in division five , determined to return to division four after we were relegated 12 months ago . Dominating and winning 11 out of 12 rounds across the season led to the club finishing on top of the ladder and achieving automatic promotion . There are many promising signs for next season , but the club realises that we need to continue to build on retaining and growing our membership base .
The club has worked at growing the number of schoolboy athletes and junior female members through active relationships with the school , local secondary girls ’ schools and running squads . These initiatives are continuing during the off-season .
This year , running for OSAC was recognised as an official school sport , with colours available to be earned for the first time . This led to an influx of 2023 school
APS Athletic squad members signing up , and as these numbers increase , it will also complement the school team in the long run . In February , Year 12 boys Rory Vial and Elden Zeng were appointed as the inaugural Captain and Vice Captain of Old Scotch Athletics at Scotch . A big thank you to Director of Sport Stuart Powell and to the school for their support of our club .
In November , at the Victoria State Relay Championships in Doncaster , we fielded 10 relay teams . In so doing , the club created history by having our first two female track teams compete , with one walking away with a bronze medal . This was the result of a great coming together of runners from both the summer and winter seasons . With nine out of the 10 teams finishing top eight in the state , it was a day of significant achievements . Our overall medal tally was three golds ( male open 4x1500m , male under 18 4 x400m and 4 x 800m ) and one bronze ( female 40 4x1500m ).
The local summer season concluded with the club having 31 athletes compete across 62 events at the Victorian State Track and Field Championships at Lakeside Stadium . As a small club , we punched well above our weight with seven gold medals , six silver medals , four bronze medals , 32 top 10 positions , numerous personal bests and several national qualifiers achieved , enabling 12 athletes to represent Victoria at the Australian National Track and Field Championships , which were held in Adelaide in April .
A big thank you goes to our club coaches , Gregor Evans (’ 67 ) and David Lightfoot , for volunteering their time and expertise . The athletes and the club appreciate everything Gregor and David do for them individually and for the club . The proof is in the pudding , with improvement across the board in the athletes ’ performance , winning division five this year , and with the number of national qualifiers produced .
Huge congratulations to Old Boy Ben Beischer (’ 19 ), who represented Australia in the 2024 FISU World University Cross
86 Great Scot Issue 171 – Edition 1 2024