Athletics
Eleni Gilden made a flying start to the Athletics Victoria’s first shield competition for the year with victory in the women’s 400 metres at Nunawading on Saturday. Gilden’s 59.57 seconds edged out her sister, Rosamond (60.71), and Williamstown teammate Karoline Curtis (62.61). Celeste Mucci claimed wins in the under-18 100-metre hurdles in 14.27 seconds and the under-18 long jump with 5.31 metres. Sweeney Preston ran a personal best of 51.27 seconds in the under-18 400 metres, while Cosimo Mucci had the best time of 11.50 seconds in the under-18 100 metres.
Football
The bulk of Williamstown’s list for the upcoming VFL season has been settled with 13 new faces and a high retention rate from the side that reached the finals last season. Heading the list of recruits are former AFL-listed players Taylor Hine, who played with the Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne, and Sam Dunell, who played at St Kilda. Western Jets graduates Liam McMahon, Billy Myers and Caleb Sullivan have received contracts, along with Williamstown CYMS premiership players Tom Johnstone and Ash Heaver.
Cricket
The Williamstown and District Cricket Association under-21 representative side is in the last four of the Neil Wright Shield. WDCA will face Diamond Valley CA in a one-day game on Sunday at a venue still to be announced with the winner to advance to the final.
