Masters athlete joins Turbines in time for country champs

Ken Bruce, who has previously competed with Diamond Valley Athletic Club, has joined Warrnambool's relatively new track and field club.

Bruce, who has tended to compete at Geelong, realised the Turbines had been participating in the Athletics Victoria Shield League (AVSL).

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The Warrnambool resident thought why not join the local club and wore the club colours for the first time last weekend at Geelong.

He's a decorated athlete and for two consecutive years was the Victorian masters 60 meters, 100m, 200m and long jump champion for over 65 mens.

While Bruce loves his athletics, he doesn't take it too seriously.

"The juniors, they're in a state of continuous improvement but in the masters we're in a state of continuous decline," he said with a laugh.

"Both groups need to adjust their expectations and training around what's happening to their bodies."

The 68-year-old said he had a chuckle when he was at Turbines' training recently because it was at his old school.

The team was practising at Warrnambool College (formerly known as Warrnambool Technical School) and he recalled doing long jump on the school grounds in the mid-1960s.

"I was laughing to myself the other day that I was back up there still doing the same thing," he said.

Bruce is competing in the 100m, 200m, long jump and triple jump in the over 60s this weekend.

His preferred events are the 100m and long jump and he'll get stuck into the long jump on Friday evening.

His focus is to enjoy the country championships and contribute as many points as he can to the Turbines' total for the event.

Bruce grew up in Warrnambool before moving in the early 80s and returned about six years ago.

Before moving away he was part of the Warrnambool Amateur Athletic Club through the 60s and 70s.

Bruce explained the club's track was at what is today Warrnambool College's school oval.

He said it would be great to see other south-west masters athletes get involved with the Turbines.

"I'd encourage them to come along and be part of the Turbines, they can compete a couple times in Geelong, there's no pressure," he said.

He emphasised athletes got seeded at AVSL meets so they competed against others of similar ability, regardless of age.

ASW president Jeremy Dixon said the club had 13 athletes competing at the championships.

Warrnambool sprinters Grace Kelly and Layla Watson will be running for Ballarat Harriers.

Kelly is in the 100 and 200m and Watson in the 100, 200 and 400m. The teenagers are both in relays.

Another Warrnambool youngster, Zac Norton, who boards at Geelong College, will feature in distance events including the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m and three-kilometre steeplechase.