Powerful Learning

29 May 2019

Ruyton Secures the 2019 Victorian Road Relay Championship

Ruyton Secures the 2019 Victorian Road Relay Championship

On race day, the feeling was upbeat with our girls poised for a gripping contest. The glint in the eyes of every Ruyton girl indicated a preparedness to fight to the very end. The team was ready.

After withstanding a gripping draw with Wesley two weeks ago at the Victorian Cross Country Relay Championships, the Victorian Road Relays loomed as potentially the end of Ruyton’s staggering 16 year undefeated run in all State Cross Country Championships.

Chasing its 49th consecutive win, the Ruyton Cross Country team was reminded of the importance of work ethic, hunger, focus and commitment to each other. On race day, the feeling was upbeat with our girls poised for a gripping contest. The glint in the eyes of every Ruyton girl indicated a preparedness to fight to the very end. The team was ready.

In the first race of the day the Ruyton team was ignited as our Under 14 'A' team outworked, out-teamed and outran the specialised school teams to finish in second place. Not to be outdone, the Under 14 'B' team finished 6th to storm home ahead of at least a dozen 'A' teams from schools throughout Victoria. Our Under 16 and Under 18 'A' teams finished 7th and 5th respectively placing Ruyton within striking distance of Wesley who had hit the lead after winning the Under 18 relay.
 
Our Ruyton Under 20 'A' and 'B' team needed to finish a minimum of 4th and 8th place respectively to once again draw level with Wesley. Achieving anything better would enable Ruyton to claim the overall Victorian Road Relay Championship. Fittingly, the Ruyton Under 20 'A' team, comprising two of our three Captains, finished 3rd while our 'B' team edged up into 7th place securing a historic victory for Ruyton.

The 92 girls who represented Ruyton at Princes Park are to be commended for their sheer will to keep this team legacy alive. Every girl proudly wore the Ruyton uniform and ran with passion and intensity. The extraordinary number of Ruyton consecutive State Championship wins has to come to an end one day, but the desire shown by the whole team on Saturday shows that our girls are willing to continue the fight.

Mr Steve Ellinghaus
Director of Athletics