Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy are chasing Stawell Gift glory on Easter Monday, but they will face some stiff competition in the semi-finals.
The sprint sensations were superb in the heats on Saturday, and will run to book their place in the final of the 120 metre race on grass from 12.43pm AEST.
The handicapping system provides opportunity for their rivals however, with Gout needing to beat 28-year-old John Evans, who was tipped by experts to reach the final, in the semis.
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Gout is running off a mark of one metre and Evans set the fastest time of the heats, clocking 12.13 off a mark of 9.75m, setting up an intriguing semi-final.
Event organisers will no doubt be keeping their fingers crossed that Gout and Kennedy can meet in the final as the Queenslanders have formed a friendly rivalry in recent times, including Kennedy pipping Gout in the 200m at the Maurie Plant Meet in Melbourne last month.
They were due to meet again in the 200m at the national championships earlier this month in Perth, but Kennedy was disqualified on the starting blocks.
In a touching moment, he brushed off his own disappointment to celebrate Gout’s victory with him.
There were similar scenes in Stawell on Saturday as they celebrated with one another as they won their respective heats, and Gout opened up on their relationship ahead of the semi-finals.
“It’s definitely a great relationship,” Gout told Channel 7’s Sunday Footy Feast.
“Me and Lachie, we’ve raced other for a couple of years now, ever since I started he’s always been in my heat at shield meets.
“We’ve definitely built a relationship off that and just being together and racing together helps us take it to the next level.
“Obviously we’re trying to beat each other but we also want the best for each other during the runs.
“Especially here in Stawell. I was before his heat and he was cheering me on, and after my heat I was cheering him on.
“It’s definitely great and it’s a rivalry but it’s also a friendship as well.”
Kennedy will face 17-year-old Dash Muir, who was also widely tipped to make the final off a handicap of 7.75m, and 2018 champion Jacob Despard, who is running off 1.75m, in his semi-final.
The silver medallist in the 60m at the World Indoors earlier this year knows he will need to be at his best.
“I’ve watched this Gift many times. Even before I started doing track, you always watch this as it’s a great event,” Kennedy said.
“It’s got a whole lot of history behind it and I’m just honoured to be able to run here and be able to put on a show.
“I’ve got heaps more in the tank and hopefully we can go even faster in the semi and the final because I’m going to have to.”
In another semi-final, second-fastest qualifier Jasper Thomas will race against 2023 Stawell Gift winner Ryan Tarrant.
There are six semi-finals with only the winners of each race advancing to the final, which will be staged at 2.20pm.
The winner of Australia’s richest and oldest foot race will pocked $40,000 for their efforts.
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