Athletics
14 April, 2025
Stawell handicaps released
The Victorian Athletic League (VAL) has announced handicaps for the nearly 1000 athletes who will compete in the 2025 Powercor Stawell Gift over the Easter long weekend in Stawell.
Now in its 143rd year, Australia’s richest footrace will attract the nation’s fastest sprinters, some making their debut on the historic grass track of Central Park.
The three-day carnival will culminate on Easter Monday with the iconic Powercor Stawell Gift and Powercor Women’s Gift, each worth $40,000 for the winner.
Following the Australian Athletics Championships in Perth, standout names will include Lachlan Kennedy (0.25m), Gout Gout (1m), Jacob Despard (1.75m), Jack Hale (2m) and Bree Rizzo (0m), all preparing to challenge seasoned pros from the backmarks.
Defending champions Jack Lacey and Chloe Mannix-Power will return, aiming to achieve what’s been done only once in event history: back-to-back wins.
Lacey will start from a 6m mark while Mannix-Power, after an exceptional amateur season, will begin from scratch (0m).
Lacey said he saw the challenge ahead and believed Ballarat’s Patrick ‘Paddy’ Martin (8.5m) would be one to watch.
“We have great talent coming with Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy,” Lacey said.
“But there are many great contenders from the Victorian Athletic League this year – Dash Muir (7.75m) from Melbourne, John Evans (9.75m) from Adelaide – but my pick is Patrick Martin.”
Kennedy, whose rise from rugby to athletics has turned heads, said he was ready to embrace the challenge.
“Competing at Stawell has always been a goal of mine.
"The event’s rich history and the opportunity to compete for a big prize purse is exciting.
"I’m running well and give myself every chance for a win in Stawell.”
Athletes with higher handicaps are also expected to make their mark.
Gold Coaster Tim Delahunty (8.25m), Newcastle’s Jasper Thomas (6.5m) and from John Evan’s stable South Australians Jesse Cordoma (8.75m) and Corey Baker (9.5m) are all in strong contention.
In the Powercor Women’s Gift, Mannix-Power and Bree Rizzo will chase down a strong field including 2019 winner Lexi Loizou (2.75m) and Queenslander Jess Mead (7.25m).
Mead credits her improvement to training with Mannix-Power.
“Chloe has been a huge help," she said.
"She’s given me advice that I’ve taken on board and taken into my running.
"What she did last year – winning from the back mark – was really special.
"It’s inspired me so much, but at the end of the day I just want to run my own race and be the best I can be.”
Mead also praised Rizzo’s impending presence.
“What Bree does in this sport is really cool and inspiring.
"Having her compete at Stawell alongside us will be exciting.”
The 2019 champion, Alexia Loizou, also returns with strong form following a standout run at the Rye Gift in January – her fastest ever over 120m.
With only one woman, Sue Carr, having won the women’s gift twice, Mannix-Power has the chance to make history.
Others in the mix for Easter Monday’s final include Nyajima Jock (3.5m) from Ballarat, Olympian Ellie Beer who will also contest the Lorraine Donnan 400m (6m), Kayla Montagner (7m) from outside Cairns, Clare de Salis (7.75m) from Canberra and Jemma Stapleton from Melbourne (11m).
“It’s always so exciting when the handicaps are released for the Powercor Stawell Gifts, and this year it's gone up a notch," presenter Jason Richardson said.
“The chase is on."
The full list of handicaps is on the VAL website: https://val.org.au/index.php?id=27
However, these remain subject to change based on any new or undeclared performances that are registered before the start of the race.
The 2025 Powercor Stawell Gift will run from April 19 to 21.
All events will be broadcast live and free on 7Plus across the weekend, with live coverage on Channel Seven from 11.30am on Easter Monday.
Tickets are available via Ticketek.