The Geelong club backed up its success from last year, finishing clear of Bendigo YMCA Harriers and Eaglehawk YMCA to win overall honours from the three-day carnival.

Chilwell was second in both the men’s and women’s team categories, with those titles going the way of Bendigo YMCA Harriers and Eaglehawk YMCA respectively.

Teenage high-jumping sensation Eleanor Patterson (South Coast) and running talent Sam Baird (Ballarat Harriers) collected the Australia Day medals for their outstanding achievements.

Patterson won the open women’s high jump and also ensured she is a world junior qualifier with her leap of 1.85m, while Baird ran a sharp 47.38sec in winning the under-20 400m.

Jemuel Pryse (Bendigo YMCA Harriers) was named outstanding under-16 athlete after a range of medals in field events during the carnival, while Ned Weatherly (Athletics Chilwell) took home the sportsmanship award.

Weatherly also clinched six gold medals in field events across open and under-18 divisions.

These presentations were conducted at the end of a hectic three days of competition, with the championships beginning on Friday afternoon and running through Saturday and yesterday.

tim.oconnor@fairfaxmedia.com.au