🏃♂️ Maccabi Athletics Club
2025 was a year of steady growth and meaningful progress for Maccabi Athletics, both on the track and in the community. The club competed across Cross Country (XCR) and Track & Field, fielding:
- Cross Country: two open mixed cross country teams and one U14 boys team
- Track and Field competition: one mixed open and juniors, male and female
The biggest shift this year has been the strengthening of our men’s training squad, particularly in the 19–50+ age range. We also saw an encouraging flow of junior footballers from AJAX joining our sessions to build speed and endurance, showing how athletics supports performance in other sports.
Female membership and retention in the 15–20 age bracket remains a priority going into next year. Work is underway to make the pathway into senior competition clearer and more welcoming for girls who transition out of Little Athletics or junior teams.
2025 Impact
Total numbers in 2025
| Male | Female | |
| Junior (U18) members | 65 | 30 |
| Open / senior (18+) members | 18 | 2 |
| Volunteers | 5 | 5 |
This year has brought results that reflected both individual dedication and collective improvement.
Men’s Cross Country Division 4 – Premiership Winners
After winning Division 5 last year, the men’s squad backed it up by taking out Division 4 in 2025. The team now moves up to Division 3 in 2026. Go team!
Jemima Montag – National Champion (again)
In February, she won the Australian 20km Race Walk Championship for the sixth time, adding to her established record on the world stage. Jemima continues to be a role model for our juniors and a proud life member and ambassador, showing future athletes what is possible with commitment over time.
Zac Ashkanasy – A season for the record books
Zac’s 2025 achievements speak to what long-term dedication can look like:
- Set a world record in the 1500m for the 50+ age category (3:57.21) in March
- Broke the Australian record for the 10km road run in August
- Won three Australian Masters national titles: 1500m, 5km track, and 3km cross country
His season has not only been successful but also motivating for the entire club.
Julien Schulberg – Victorian State Champion
Julien won the Victorian 3,000m title in the 40–44 age category, the result of sustained, structured training turning into smart racing.
Emerging talent and juniors
A strong group of juniors represented the club at Little Athletics and state meets, including:
- Charlie Pack
- Sofia & Allegra Sable
- Yuval Berry
- Zak Sutton
Special mention to Asher Brown, who won the Little Athletics Victoria U10 State Cross Country title. He is one of a growing group learning how to train with patience and commitment at a young age.
Masters Steadiness
Veteran athletes Myer Vorchheimer (80–84) and John Gould (70–74) continued to bring home multiple state medals, reminding everyone that athletics is a sport you can do for life.
Acknowledgements
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Ilia Eligulachvili received recognition from the club for his ongoing work as a coach and mentor.
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Adam Bogatin was awarded Life Membership after more than 30 years of involvement across competition, coaching, leadership and administration.
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In April, the club hosted the Maccabi Junior Athletics Carnival at Duncan Mackinnon, with over 100 athletes from 20+ schools. Many of those children went on to join training groups.
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Term 4 programs offered adult and junior entry points into running and event skills.
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The Maccabi Run Club continued to grow, offering a welcoming space for social running, not just competition.
Club Partners:
G-Lux Stone, Kieser, Bendigo Bank, Maccabi Victoria Development Fund, Purple Foods, Total Health Physio
🎯 Priorities for the Year Ahead
- The Maccabi Athletic club junior Carnival gazetted for March/April 2026
- Collaborating with AJAX Junior and Senior Football Clubs on shared speed and conditioning programs
- Expanding the coaching group to support more squad structures
- Increasing pathways for girls and young women to remain in the sport
- Strengthening the transition from Little Athletics → Junior Track → Open Athletics
- Planning for a Maccabi Cup inter schools tournament in collaboration with Maccabi Victoria in 2026
- Continuing to grow the Maccabi Run Club
- Perform well and excel in XCR Division 3 in 2026
Continue to work on and work through our 5 year strategic plan:
Faster, Further, Higher – Together.
