Rodrigues-Chico quickest in Gift heats

Saturday, 20 April 2019:

Rising sprint star Dhruv Rodrigues- Chico has clocked the fastest time in the opening round of the Stawell Gift and shapes as the man to beat on Easter Monday.

The Victorian sprinter was the only runner to break the 12-second barrier on Saturday at Central Park, powering to victory in the seventh heat in 11.913 seconds.

"I was nervous but very happy with the result and hopefully I can carry that momentum on to Monday," said Rodrigues-Chico, who has been handed a 7m handicap.

Joshua Ross overcome an early-race hiccup to keep alive his dream of becoming the first man to win the Gift three times.

Ross, a two-time Olympic 4x100m relay finalist, hung tough to win his heat in 12.668 off a 2m mark.

"After a stumble at the start I had to work even harder in the first 30 metres," said the 38-year-old whose previous Stawell Gift victories came in 2003 and 2005.

"I've changed a lot of things this year and the results speak for themselves."

Pre-event favourite Jason Bailey (10m) advanced to the semis with a minimum of fuss, winning his heat in 12.228.

But defending champion and backmarker Jacob Despard (0.75m) was eliminated after trailing home third in 12.726.

Alexia Loizou clocked the quickest time of 13.856 in the opening round of the women's Gift.

The only other two women to break the 14-second barrier were Sophie Fighera (13.925) and Bree Masters (13.976).

"That was really nerve wracking but now I need to go home, recover tomorrow and come out bigger and better on Monday," said Masters, a Queenslander competing at Stawell for the first time.

Evergreen Lauren Wells, who won a 12th national 400m hurdles title earlier this month, was second behind Loizou in the quickest heat of the day in 14.113.

Backmarker Maddie Coates, running off a handicap of -1m, was a close second in her heat in 14.345 behind Cara Boustead (14.232).

The semis and final of the men's and women's Gifts take place on Easter Monday with $40,000 on offer for both winners.






AAP