Elite runners from across the state and beyond will descend on Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve for the annual Castlemaine Gift this Sunday February 26.
Castlemaine Athletics Club member Darryl Nettleton said a top day of athletics action is assured for the whole family.
“We will be kicking off the event with our junior races from 10am. Local youngsters are encouraged to just come along and register on the day and there will be a little prize for every competitor who takes part,” he said.
Senior racing will commence at 11am and run through until approximately 6.40pm wrapping up with the 400m events.
“We are expecting more than 250 runners to compete over the course of the day which is the only full day athletics carnival in the shire,” he said.
“There will be eight heats in the men’s 120m Gift sponsored by the Mineral Council of Australia (Vic Division) with runners vying for a share of $5000 in prize money,” he said.
In the first heat Will Johns and Massimo Acquaro are expected to have a good match up.
Heat 3 will pit Aidan Green against Patrick Martin and Heat 4 will see Jack Lacey take on former winner Tim Rosen.
In Heat 5 reigning Stawell Gift winner Harrison Kerr will have some strong competition against Spencer Brown and Tapasu Paea. Heat 6 will see last year’s winner Nathan Riali return. His main danger will be Luke Mitchell, Tom Perry and Jerome Lugo.
In Heat 7 former Stawell Gift winner Matthew Rizzo will take on former Castlemaine Gift placegetter Kevin Brittain.
In Heat 8 favourite Newcastle’s Jack Newman will be the one to watch after success at the Wangaratta, Beachside and Ballarat Gifts.
“Jack has finished second at our last three Gifts and is in great form, but he will be tested by Rose Bay challenger Hamish Lindstrom,” Darryl said.
In the Women’s 120m Gift proudly sponsored by Bendigo West MP Maree Edwards and Leech Earthmoving runners will contest six heats to decide the finalists.
In Heat 1 Stawell placegetter Cassandra Wang-Lecouteur will face off against Sounya Bisvanathan, Lucy Carter of Hobart and Buninyong’s own Tiana Shillito.
“That will be a brutal heat. A really close one,” Darryl said.
In Heat 2 Grace O’Dwyer will be coming into the event fresh off her Keilor Gift win, her first in eight years, and will tackle Ruby Crisp.
In Heat 3 the winner of Adelaide’s big race the ‘Bay Sheffield’ Jessie Andrew of Riddells Creek will be up against Jennifer King and Halle Martin of Ballarat.
Heat 4 will see Ellie Keratianos face Victorian Athletics League CEO Taylah Perry and Taya McPhan.
Seymour’s Lucy Zotti will be the one to watch in Heat 5 up against Liv Ryan, Akshaya Iyer, and Olympic 4 x 400m runner Kendra Hubbard.
Heat 6 will also be tight with Zoe Neale and Trinity Inall-Bejah from Tasmania both in great form.
“The Women’s 400m and Veterans 300m events will also be standouts with some fantastic athletes from 35-70 plus set to feature in the latter,” Darryl said.
Entry to the Gift is $5 per person, $3 for pensioners, and kids are free. There will delicious food and drink available for purchase from the canteen, ice creams, a coffee van, and sweet treats from ‘My Goodness’ Chewton Service Station.