Slashed PBs, scorching heat and surprise packets were all on show as St Kilda’s AFLW side completed its first two-kilometre time-trial of the pre-season yesterday evening.
Twenty-two players battled through as the mercury tipped over 30 degrees, with all making it across the line with the encouragement of their teammates.
Eight Saints did so with personal-best times in the extremely challenging conditions.
Recently signed free agent Tahlia Meyer made a brilliant first impression with the fastest time of the night’s three heats, while Molly McDonald and Hannah Priest rounded out the podium.
McDonald, who completed a half-marathon during the off-season, sliced almost half-a-minute off her previous time.
Isabella Shannon and Olivia Vesely rounded out the top-five, while Kate Shierlaw and Jacqui Vogt also completed their runs in under eight minutes.
It was promising signs for the Saints’ on-ball brigade in particular, with Vesely shaving nearly 40 seconds off last year’s time and fellow best-and-fairest Georgia Patrikios smashing her 2019 record by a whopping 45 seconds.
Patrikios, Priest, Rhi Watt and several other players selflessly put their own fatigue aside to re-run the last few metres alongside their teammates closing in on the finish line.
Young defender Tarni White was another to keep an eye on after racking up an impressive PB eight months on from her season-ending knee injury.
