POWERCOR STAWELL GIFT DAY 1 RESULTS LEWIS AND MASTERS STORM THROUGH FROM SCRATCH

Date: 16th April 2022

Stawell, Vic, April 16, 2022: Danielle Shaw and ­­­­Hamish Lindstrom recorded the fastest times in glorious sunshine in today’s heats of the Powercor Stawell Gift and the Change Our Game Women’s Gift, making them both favourites for Easter Monday’s finals. A group of the country’s fastest amateur runners also secured their places in Monday’s semi-finals with Torrie Lewis and Bree Masters both winning their heats in the Change Our Game Women’s Gift from the scratch mark.

One of the favourites for the Powercor Stawell Gift, Vaucluse based Hamish Lindstrom was first off the blocks winning Heat 1 in 12.052s off a handicap of 7.75m. “I’m pretty happy with that performance, it’s an honour coming in as one of the favourites as this is such a big event. I’m happy to be in the position I wanted to be, just need to execute on the day now,” said Hamish.

In the Change Our Game Women’s Gift, Danielle Shaw clocked a time of 13.632s off a mark of 5.5mm. The hurdler from Ringwood who has represented Australia, said: “The Australian Championships have finished now, and I always wanted to come to Stawell. The atmosphere is amazing. We don’t get these crowds at Nationals or any big meet that we have so it is really good to see all the support.”

Second quickest in the Powercor Stawell Gift heats was Harrison Kerr off a mark of 9.25m in a time of 12.085s and third was Jesse McKenna off 6.25m in 12.222s.

In the Change Our Game Women’s Gift, the second fastest time was recorded by Queenslander Carla Bull off 6m in 13.642s and Olivia Hastings of 7.75m in 13.681s, and the highly favoured Jessica Payne off 4.75m finished in 13.691s.

The women amateur backmarkers stormed to win their heats with Torrie Lewis recording a time of 13.970 and Bree Masters, who was also off scratch, winning her heat in 13.771s. Mia Gross won Heat 2 in 13.797s off 0.75m, and Taylah Cruttenden secured a semi-final place by winning her heat in 13.876s off a mark of 1.75m.

The male professional runners may have stamped their authority on the Powercor Stawell Gift with swift times atop the leaderboard. But, a handful of the nation’s top amateurs remain firmly in the picture ahead of Easter Monday with strong performances off the back marks.

Freshly crowned Australian 100m champion Jake Doran safely navigated a false start and consequential one-metre penalty, keeping his composure to progress through to the semi final after running from behind scratch. 

The young duo of Calab Law and Aidan Murphy impressed at their Stawell debuts to get through unscathed, whilst Jacob Despard and Connor Diffey also advanced to Monday’s semi-finals with ease.

New Zealand’s Eddie Nketia also punched his ticket to Easter Monday in his trademark entertaining fashion. 

The fastest time recorded in the Arthur Postle 70m Handicap was by Jake Ireland in 7.550s, and in the Stawell Athletic Club Women’s 70m was Holly Hansen in 10.128s.

Fashions of the Field added the glamour to Easter Saturday with winner of Lady of the Day Claire Roberts from Canberra wearing a striking green outfit in honour of Melissa Breen. A decade ago Breen won both the Strickland Family Women’s Gift off scratch and the Fashions on the Field. Claire won $1000 with the runner up Councillor Lauren Dempsey winning a hamper of chocolates by Cadbury.  Best Dressed Gent was Joseph Bangura also winning $1000 followed by Declan Goodman. Best Hat went to Katie Chancellor followed by Melanie Wade.

In the longer distance races today, five champions were crowned. Oliver Lewry took out the Stawell Gift Hall of Fame Backmarkers 1600m in a time of 4:2.269s.  The 2022 Official Supporters Club Stawell Frontmarkers’ Handicap 1600m Final was won by Andrew Sait in 4:5.241s.  The Stawell Athletic Club Women’s Handicap 800m Final winner was Emily Dalziel in 02:7.947.  Jacob Sprunt was the winner of the Hipworth Athletic Club Under 18 800m at 1:54.656 and the Powercor Little Athletics Handicap 800m was won by Sloan Mullholland with a time of 2:18.827.

Easter Sunday is Family Day with the Easter Egg Hunt and MattyB Kids Clinic ahead of another list of exciting races including the semis and finals of the Stawell Athletic Club Women’s 70m and the Arthur Postle 70m as well as the heats of the SYPAQ Lorraine Donnan 400m Women’s Handicap.

RESULTS Full results for Day 1 of the Power Stawell Gift Carnival are here

PHOTOS for Day 1 are here

Tickets for Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are available from Ticketek or at the Box Office at the gate.

For all media enquiries, please contact: Jane Owen at 360 Sport and Entertainment on 0407936005/jane.owen@360se.com.au.

 

 

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