But the 2025 edition on Saturday saw the Kelfit stable do exactly that, running riot at Kings Park to storm home for four wins and five additional podiums, as well as numerous others reaching finals, on a triumphant afternoon for all involved.
The architect of the stunning return for the group was none other than Kelvin Lubeck, the 2023-24 Victorian Athletic League trainer of the year, with the powerhouse behind the athletics resurgence in Seymour thrilled with how the event proceeded as a whole.
“As you’ve seen, the track surface and the squad itself, it’s been just fantastic, you couldn’t wish for a better day,” he said.
“Weather-wise it was good also, so there’s just ticks everywhere.
“The corporate room was great, the footy club area was fantastic, so overall just a massive success. But gee, there’s 11 on the committee and it’s just massive work that goes in.
“And just as a coach of the Kelfit team, we're just second to none, I couldn’t be happier.”
It was young gun Cohen Hill that got celebrations under way early for the Kelfit group, winning his under-14 120m heat en route to a maiden sash in the final, just edging out Kelfit teammate Mia Brown in second, who also won her heat to advance, while recently crowned 100m and 200m School Sport Australia national champion Poppy Robinson finished sixth off a mark of 3m.
Lucy Zotti ensured the celebrations continued when she broke through to claim the win in the women’s 800m, ending a streak of six second-place finishes without victory, before doubling up to clinch a gutsy triumph in the women’s 400m final over a stacked field.
Cooper Lubeck had targeted the 1600m open at Seymour for months and delivered when it mattered with a commanding performance, leaving little doubt about the result from the moment the starter fired his pistol.
The four wins were the icing on what was an already successful day for the Kelfit group, with president Blair Collins claiming second in the 800m over-45 event, as did Hayden Anderson in the 120m open final and Julian Morgan in the 550m open final, while Ian Porter finished third in the over-35 120m final.
To have so many athletes peaking at their home event was no coincidence, with Kelvin Lubeck carrying out a well-orchestrated training plan, one which he said wouldn’t have worked if it wasn’t for the commitment of his troops.
“The aim was to get them to the Seymour Gift fit and healthy, which virtually every one of them was,” he said.
“That’s very difficult to do in athletics, so to get them there was a bit of a feat, and a bit of luck and a bit of timing.
“But they’re all so committed and they love it. So that’s the key, they all love it.”
While the group will take time to bask in its accomplishments, there’s already half an eye on the next big goal.
Easter weekend represents many things to many people, but it’s simply Stawell weekend to athletics aficionados, and it’s the season finale in 2026 that Lubeck’s attention has now turned to.
“Stawell is the next big one,” he said.
“As a coach, that’s a challenging one. You’ve got to strip the gloss off them and then reignite that passion to go again and train.
“But it’s been a great year so far, so let’s hope it continues.”
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