Box Hill Athletic Club won its First State League Premiership since 1995 and its first female title since 1993 with a commanding 51-point win over Melbourne University, Essendon and Doncaster. The win was particularly pleasing, as several of the clubs star athletes were unavailable for the final. The win is a credit to the hard work and dedication of Team Manger Val Armstrong, who has consistently been able to bring together a strong team throughout the long season.

Box Hill dominated the first night of competition and went into the second night with a 40 point lead thanks largely to victories by Larissa Tourchinskaya in the Shot Put, Kerri Jorgensen in the 1500 and Wendy Muldoon in the walk. But faced a serious challenge from Melbourne University on the second night with 100Hurdler Georgina Power and several 5000M runners unavailable

After the win Val said "We were a bit worried coming into the second night of competition, despite the big lead, it looked like we weren’t going to able to cover several events. But many of the girls were able to step up and do extra events, especially Jenny Marshall who won almost one fifth of the teams overall score, and Joclyn Keage who filled in over 5000M at the last minute".

After coming third at the National Club championships several weeks ago in Sydney, the win confirms Box Hill’s place as Victoria’s leading female team.

On what was a tense night for the team managers of the Box Hill men’s State League team, Box Hill Athletic Club survived its first ever State League promotion/relegation match. And in the words of club President Graeme Olden, "We can’t ever let this happen again".

For most of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s Box Hill Athletic Club had such a stranglehold on the State League shield, that when the club finally lost the title one year, Athletics Victoria had to ask the club to give it back. It was unthinkable to many that the club could ever be in a position to drop out of the competition, ever!

But in a reflection of the season, many of the clubs best athletes were unavailable for this important match. The club was forced to ask several young athletes to step up, and in an encouraging sign for future years it was the young athletes who led the team to victory, backed up by many of the clubs most determined and dedicated athletes.

The night started badly for Box Hill when several of the possible qualifiers failed to make the State league standard in the Javelin, Walk and 400Hurdles. Going into the 200 heats the club was last of the three teams, on a night when only two would survive. Veteran Andrew Wilcox placed second in the first heat, followed by 16 year old Lane Harrison who also took second in his heat. In the third heat, 17 year old James Fildes ran near his personal best to win the heat and bring Box Hill level with the two other teams. Another 17 year old Steven Hooker won the Pole Vault, while 22 year old Michael Jones won the 800. Backed up by the 5000 metre runners who finished first second and third, and by the time the last event, the 4 by 400 relay came around, the club had secured its place in State league.