120m Stawell Easter Gift Handicaps - 2009

[kitkat1]

@kitkat1

By John Salvado
STAWELL, Vic, April 13 AAP - Australian beach sprint champion Aaron Stubbs raced to a commanding victory in the 128th edition of the Stawell Gift on Monday.
Racing off a mark of 7.25m, the 18-year-old from Lismore had rounded up the frontmarkers by the midway stage of the rich 120m handicap event before streaking clear to win in an adjusted time of 11.93 seconds.
Paul Tancredi was second in 12.10 and backmarker Matt Davies was third in 12.14.
Stubbs pocketed $40,000 for the victory and then set his sights on winning a place in the 200m at the 2012 London Olympics.
It's more about the race (than the money),'' said Stubbs. This is one of the most premier races that Australian athletes do and I’ve finally got it.‘’
Stubbs, whose father Paul was second in his Gift heat on Saturday, looked super-confident before the race, waving to his supporters in the crowd at Central Park.
I think on the outside you should always try and show what you're feeling on the inside,'' he said. Stubbs is coached by Ryan Hoffman who has raced at Stawell regularly in the last 15 years. I did my trials and I trialed at 12.40 (seconds),‘’ said Stubbs.
Ryan was saying you have to trail at 11.8. I guess so much is how it happens on the day that matters.‘’

Hoffman said Stubbs gained plenty of confidence from winning four gold medals in the senior and under-19 beach sprints and relays at last month’s national surf lifesaving championships in Perth.
Josh Ross’s bid to win a record third Gift crown ended when he was eliminated in the semi-finals earlier on Monday.
Trisha Greaves won the women’s Gift final in 13.60, with Tamsyn Lewis second in 13.82.

Anyone care to take a stab at evaluating what Stubbs’ times at Stawell would translate to over 100m? And, since he seeks Olympic 200m selection, what his times suggest he might clock at 200m?

WELL DONE Youngy, but as you know better than anyone that’s the nature of these handcapped events.