Ron Bendall

Kai Zhe Tan (left) . . . fifth in the long jump

Nick Dowling won the gold medal in the 17 years boys 100m on Day 1 of the Northern Metropolitan-Central Coast Region Little Athletics Championships at Narrabeen.

Nick was the fastest qualifier in the heats and was even more dominant in the final.

Jess McIver was third fastest qualifier in her heat f the 17 years girls 100m but exceeded expectations in the final, coming away with silver.

Xin Min Tan got away to a cracking start in the 14 years 60m final to take the silver.

Little brother Kai Zhe Tan set a personal best in the 12 years long jump, finishing fifth.

He also made the final of his 100m.

Ron Bendall has been -re-accredited with Athletics Australia.

Athletics Australia was approved Ron Bendall’s coaching annual re-accreditation for 2020.

Bendall is an AA accredited Level 4 specialist coach in sprints, relays and hurdles and a Level 2 club coach.

National Coaching Development Manager Jill Taylor said that once again Bendall had met AA’s accreditation requirements.

Ashley McMahon . . . gold

Ron Bendall squad sprinters were to the fore on Day 2 of the NSW Masters Championships at SOPAC.

Ashley McMahon won the men’s 40+ years 100m, Monique Perry won the women’s 45+ years 100m and Ken Elias won the men’s 30+ years 400m.

Jo Davis was second in the 40+ years women’s 100m.

In the field, Maria Cimino won the women’s 45+ years hammer throw and was second in the triple jump while Elias took out the long jump in his age group.

Nicolette Donofrio (right) . . . hurdles winner

Nicolette Donofrio, on the comeback trail from injury, was a strong winner of the open women’s 100m hurdles in Treloar Shield competition at SOPAC on Saturday.

Nick Dowling continued his good form with a strong win in his heat of the open men’s 200m.

Maria Cimino . . . bronze

Maria Cimino won the Ron Bendall squad’s first medal at the NSW Championships at SOPAC on Friday night.

She took the bronze in the women’s 45+ years shot put.

Andy West . . . 3000m steeplechase

Maria Cimino will contest an incredible 10 events at this weekend’s NSW Masters Championships at SOPAC.

She is one of nine Ron Bendall squad athletes who till take part over the three days of competition.

They are:

• Maria Cimino, 45+ years women’s shot put, 100m, hammer throw, triple jump, 60m, 200m, long jump, javelin, weight throw, discus;
• Ken Elias, 30+ years men’s 100m, 400m, long jump, 60m, 200m;
• Ashley McMahon, 40+ years men’s 100m, 60m, 200m;
• Caerl Murray, 40+ years 100m, 60m, 200m;
• Tony Crimi, men’s 55+ years 100m, 60m, 200m;
• Jo Davis, women’s 40+ years 100m, 60m, 200m;
• Monique Perry, women’s 45+ years 100m, 60m, 200m;
• Andy West, men’s 50+ years 3000m steeplechase;
• Janet Naylon, women’s 50+ years 60m, long jump.

Maria cimino with squad mate Monique Perry

Maria Cimino won all three throwing events in the women’s 40+ years age group at Northern Zone competition at Rotary Field on Saturday.

Despite the heat she won the shot put, hammer throw and javelin.

Janet Naylon was second in the women’s 50+ years long jump and third in the shot put.

Susie Douglas (right) . . . first in her heat

Susie Douglas ran her second PB over 400m in a week at the Treloar Shield competition at SOPAC on Saturday.

She ran her first PB at the ACT Championships in Canberra last Saturday and then bettered it by almost a second at SOPAC.

Running in oppressively hot and humid conditions Susie led all the way to take out her heat of the open women’s 400m in fine style.

Curtis Kingsmill also ran a PB in his heat of the open men’s 400m while Pascale La Hei finished third in her heat.

Melinda Burke . . . second in heptathlon

Melinda Burke won the silver medal in the under 20 years women’s heptathlon at the NSW Combined Events Championships at SOPAC on the weekend.

Melinda won the 100m hurdles and 200m to complete an excellent Day 1.

Dave Turner, Ken Elias and Ashley McMahon with coach Ron Bendall

Alice Bohdan made a welcome return to competition at Northern Zone on Saturday, taking out the women’s 40+ years shot put.

In fact it was a Ron Bendall squad trifecta in the shot put with Maria Cimino finishing second and Jo Davis third.

However Maria and Jo turned the tables in other events.

Alice finished second behind Jo in the women’s 40+ years 200m and second behind Maria in the discus.

Jo also won the 60m while Maria took out the weight throw with a mighty effort which was very close to the UTS Northern Suburbs club record.

The squad posted its second trifecta in the men’s 40+ years 60m with Ashley McMahon first, Dave Turner second and Caerl Murray third.

Janet Naylon won both the 60m and shot put in the women’s 50+ years age group.

Daniel White won the under 14 years 60m while Max Holmes took out the under 16 years race. Max also won his 200m as did younger brother Sam Holmes in the under 14 years event.

Ryan Dowling won the 40+ years men’s shot put and was second in the discus while Ken Elias took out the 30+ years 60m.