Gout Gout, Lachlan Kennedy crash out in 'dramatic' Stawell Gift semis; Adelaide school teacher crowned champion
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The two hottest male sprinters in Australian athletics, Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy, were bundled out in the semi-finals of the men's 120 metres in an underwhelming conclusion to the Stawell Gift on Easter Monday.
An hour later, in a final lacking the star power thousands had hoped to see, it was 28-year-old Adelaide school teacher John Evans who charged to victory to collect the $40,000 pay cheque on offer.
Central Park in country Victoria was also the scene of an epic love story on Easter Monday as Bree Rizzo (née Masters) stormed to victory from scratch in the women's 120 metres. In doing so, the Paris 2024 semi-finalist joined her husband Matt, the 2017 Stawell Gift champion, in the history books.
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Kennedy, 21, bowed out in the first of the men's semi-final heats when he ran second to 17-year-old Dash Muir, who took victory in 12.23 seconds off a mark of 7.75 metres.
Kennedy, with the toughest handicap of the 143-strong field at 0.25m, clocked 12.23 seconds.
In the sixth and last of the semi-final heats, Gout couldn't reel in Evans, who won comfortably in a time of 12.10 off 9.75m.
Gout Gout (right) in action in his semi-final heat. Getty
Gout Gout waves to the crowd after bowing out in the semi-finals. Getty
Gout's handicap of 1.00m proved too great a deficit to overcome with the 17-year-old sensation finishing second in 12.34.
The six men who lined up in the final were Evans, Muir, Jasper Thomas, Mitch O'Neill, Patrick Martin and Joshua Lotsu.
Evans won comfortably with a time of 11.94, and went berserk in celebration.
Rizzo, running in red as the backmarker off scratch, won the women's 120m in 13.55. She pipped Chiara Santiglia, who claimed second place in 13.55 off a mark of 7.75m.
Not only did Bree Rizzo match her husband Matt in conquering the Stawell Gift, the newly wed couple met each other at a Stawell Gift many years ago.
The Gold Coast-based couple, who tied the knot last November, are now $40,000 richer.
"Honestly, this one means so much," Bree told Seven, tears of jubilation streaming down her face.
"I mean, I met Matt here, [and] he's won. To both win it [is] so incredible, and to win it off scratch is just mind-blowing. I'm so proud of myself."
John Evans and Bree Rizzo celebrate their respective Stawell Gift victories. Getty
Mother nature wasn't quite as extreme as last year — a deluge swamped Central Park on that occasion — but heavy rain tumbled down for a brief period of time before the fifth of the men's semi-final heats.
"It's been the most dramatic half hour that we've seen," said Seven commentator David Culbert.
Stawell Gift expert Nick Fiedler, who's coached four Stawell Gift winners, predicted ahead of the weekend that both Gout and Kennedy would reach the final, and tipped Gout to win.
But on Easter Sunday, the victory hopes of both star sprinters took a hit when they were drawn in difficult semi-final heats.
Only the winners of the six semi-final heats advance to the final.
As it turned out, a schoolteacher eliminated a schoolboy.
"Obviously, running in the rain is a bit harder than usual, but you've just got to adjust and just keep running," Gout said.
"He [Evans] was pretty ahead of me, so I tried my hardest hit, and he got me at the end, so it is what it is. Good run.
"I mean, this stuff you can't control. So, I mean, I just go out there and run and have fun.
"This meet is incredible, and the crowd's incredible, so I'm definitely happy to run and happy to be in the semi-final."
