Stawell Gift track three metres too long for heats
April 3, 2010 - 5:54PM
Stawell Gift officials measure the track.
Stawell Gift officials measure the track. Photo: Lachlan Bence
The 129th edition of the Stawell Gift was embroiled in controversy after the track was discovered to be more than three metres too long in today’s heats.
Canberra runner Tom Burbidge dominated the heats, clocking 12.48 seconds to rocket into favouritism on a day when no other runner broke 12.7-seconds.
But with the overall times much slower than expected, experienced observers raised concerns midway through the heats that the finish gates had been placed in the wrong spot.
After the completion of the 20 heats, officials from the Stawell Athletic Club and the Victorian Athletic League measured the track - which should have been 120m - and discovered it was actually 123.2m long.
Despite the embarrassing error, none of the 42 runners who advanced to the semis were eliminated.
The track was to be re-surveyed before the semi-finals and final on Monday.
AAP
Totally professional pros! Totally! 