Bendigo High School Athletes Chase Loddon Mallee Region Finals and AVSL Glory

More than 50 schools and 20,000 students in Bendigo use the Lar Birpa Athletics Complex each year for school sporting carnivals and training. This sustained use of the facility forms the base for the region’s high school athletics programs as athletes look ahead to finals competition and the next Athletics Victoria AVSL season.

The volume of school activity at the complex shows why regional finals and state events matter to local students. Participation feeds directly into select-entry pathways and club competition that run from October through March.

Athlete Development Program Pathways

Years 7-12 students can apply to the Athlete Development Program, which offers Athletics (Track & Field) alongside AFL and Basketball. The program connects classroom learning with elite coaching and gives selected athletes structured support for higher-level competition. Bendigo Senior Secondary College athletes regularly advance from this pathway into Loddon Mallee Region finals and School Sport Victoria State Athletics Finals, where recent results have included gold and bronze medals.

Club Competition and Seasonal Calendar

Four athletics clubs operate in the Bendigo area: Bendigo Harriers, Bendigo University, Eaglehawk and South Bendigo. These clubs run events open to athletes aged 12 and over covering running, jumping and throwing disciplines. High school students also take part in the Athletics Victoria AVSL competition from October to March and in cross-country events through the Bendigo Bats team, providing a direct bridge between school sport and club racing.

The combination of school carnivals at the Lar Birpa Athletics Complex, the Athlete Development Program and club competition gives students clear routes from classroom sessions to regional finals and state finals. Athletes and schools interested in the next AVSL season or regional finals can contact their school sport coordinator or one of the four local clubs for entry details and training schedules.