The running of the Club’s time honoured 100 yards championships took place at the George Knott Track on Sunday 17^th. of  February. A good turn up of athletes, officials and spectators saw the events run in quite warm conditions. The sprinters were happy with the almost perfect weather although some of  the runners contesting the one mile championship, held on the same day, found the temperature a little on the warm side. 

Recent gold medallist in the State under 23 triple jump Corinna Minko was successful in the women’s 100 yards, picking up her third Blue Ribbon in three years. Corinna’s time of 11.6 seconds was just one tenth outside her under 20 Club Record set in last year’s event. 

Madeleine Lantieri finished second for the second year in a row while newcomer, thirteen year old Kaylee Turvey from Yea ran into third place. 

In the men’s event, newcomer Daniel Sanders was a clear winner in 10.3 seconds. Daniel has only been with the Club for a couple of months and may just be the quickest athlete, in regard to time with Collingwood, to get his name on the Honour Board. 

His name joins those of Australian representatives Peter Norman and Bill Hooker and a number of Victorian representatives including Jeff Sargent, Grant Sargent, John Watkins, Kevin Dinale and Richard Nightingale on the board recording winners dating back to1927. 

Much improved under 16 Nathan Jumeau was a clear second in 10.8, while Sam McGilp picked up third. 

Nathan’s time equalled the Under 16 Club Record set in 1970 by Peter Halson, a very good sprinter and long jumper in both our junior and senior teams of the day. 

The mile race saw many athletes having a tilt at the various categories in our Club Records. 

Winner of the senior title Malcolm Campbell, broke his own 35-39 mark by recording 4:55.3.  Consistent performer Ken Duxbury broke the 50-54 mark (his own) by recording 5:39.4. Jim Hopkins knocked 13 seconds of his own 55-59 record in stopping the watch a tenth under 6:05. John Crameri created a mark to chase next year  in the 45-49 section. Perhaps John was a little fortunate that there was a gap in this section of the records as his time was a little slower than many of the other sections.  

Sofie Fabre recorded 6:06.9 to win the women’s event but was just outside the record for her age group. However Alison Scorgie in recording 6:08.8 sliced nine seconds off the previous best in the 40-44 section. 

Kaylee Turvey made her trip down from Yea worthwhile when in recording 6:21.9 she established an under 14 record and smashed the marks in the under 16,18 and 20 age groups. This was Kaylee’s first start over the distance and was even heard to ask someone before the race, “Just how far is a mile?” 

The Club was fortunate to have a number of our very experienced officials in attendance to add to the atmosphere of the day. 

Many thanks to Diana Barnett, Kevin Wigmore, Brian Moore, Tony Williams, Louise Braidie and Lyn Humphris for their assistance. Collingwood is certainly most fortunate  to have so many officials willing to help out at Club events, even when in so much demand by A.V. at this time of the year. 

Festivities were rounded off by a barbeque at which the Blue Ribbons were presented to the winners of the 100 Yards Championships for 2008.