THE south-west's Victorian Athletic League super weekend will pit the region's two athletic squads against each other in a number of events.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But the ultimate winner will be the further increase in popularity of athletics and the quality of the athletes in the region.
DPS (Duynhoven Perry Sprinting) Warrnambool and Inner Speed and Power athletic squads will have a total of 21 runners participating across the Warrnambool and Terang gifts.
Jacob Taylor, Emily Smith, Josh Drysdale, Jai Perry (who now trains in Torquay), Grace Kelly, Sam Carter, Aubery, Elisa, Perry and Layla Watson, Carl, Leo and Hannah McMeel, Paul Frusher and Roxy Mahony-Gilchrist will run for DPS.
Jesse Suter, Aaron Benson, Isla Dixon, head coach Jeremy Dixon, Grace Carter, Hilary Hannagan and Arlie Aldridge will represent Inner Speed and Power and Athletics South West.
READ MORE:
Warrnambool Gift president Richard Wearmouth has also put his name down to run in the masters 120-metre, 300-metre and open 70-metre races.
DPS coach Rob Duynhoven said the two squads took pride in representing the city against the best athletes from around the state and country.
"We are all here for Warrnambool," he said. "All our athletes are really happy to say they are from Warrnambool and I think Jeremy's are all the same.
"What is great about this weekend is all the athletes get to have a run in front of their home crowd."
What is great about this weekend is all the athletes get to have a run in front of their home crowd.
- Rob Duynhoven
Dixon, who is making his VAL debut and taking part in his first race for 12 years, said the squads would work together across the weekend.
"It's really important that we come together and support athletics more broadly down here in Warrnambool and the south-west," former New Zealand national champion runner said.
"I think it's great and we will get a great atmosphere (on the weekend) and there is a community developing."
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting Saturday's weather as partly cloudy with an 80 per cent chance of rain, most likely in the afternoon and evening, and a southerly 20 to 25km/h wind.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
