Emma Carr looking forward to showdown with Sha’Carri

Date: 30th March 2026

At just 22, Fitzroy sprinter Emma Carr is stepping into the spotlight at exactly the right time and she knows it.

With career-best form, growing confidence and a hunger sharpened by last year’s breakthrough, Emma is emerging as a genuine contender for this year’s Powercor Women’s Gift – with the tantalising possibility of lining up against global superstar Sha’Carri Richardson on Easter Monday.

“I feel really excited about Stawell this year. A little nervous, but mostly excited. There are so many talented women in the field and I’ll have to run my absolute best. Overall, though, I’m feeling confident in my running and I’m looking forward to Easter,” said Emma who has been handed the front mark of 10m.

“It will be unreal running against Sha’Carri Richardson. That’s what I love about pro running, you can race against people of that calibre. I don’t think she’ll have much of an issue with the grass. She’s an absolute professional and it won’t take long for her to adapt. I hope she enjoys being able to chase.”

This will be Emma’s fourth trip to Central Park, and her journey reflects the persistence required to succeed on the famous grass track. After missing Easter Monday in her first two appearances, she broke through in 2025 with a semi-final berth, a moment that reshaped her ambitions.

“Last year I made a 120m semi and that made me realise how much I wanted to do even better. The history and prestige of the Stawell Gift is ultimately what makes it so special, but the atmosphere and quality of competition is what makes me come back each year. To line up against Olympians, with the potential to cross the line before them, is something that you can’t get anywhere else. To win the Stawell Gift would be indescribable.”

Carr’s rise hasn’t come by chance. The media and comms student balances study with an increasingly demanding training schedule, while still finding time to enjoy life off the track.

But it’s on the track where everything is clicking.

“This season has been my best ever. I’m running faster than I thought I was capable of, and that’s given me a lot of confidence.”

Her standout moment came with a breakthrough win at the Waverley Gift achieved despite a disrupted lead-in.

“I’d been dealing with a hamstring issue in the month leading up, so I wasn’t even sure I’d run. I ended up putting together some really solid runs but also felt like I had lots of room for improvement, which was motivating. Winning the Essendon women’s 70m this season was also a highlight, as my squadmate Gabriel Zabotto had won the men’s 70m right before.”

That confidence is being built within a tight-knit but competitive training environment at Clifton Hill.

“I’m part of a3track track squad. We train at George Knott Reserve in Clifton Hill. There are just four of us – coach Dylan McGann (who also competes), Gabriel Zabotto and Nick Rosa. We’re a small group but we get along really well and push each other to be better each session. I think being slower than the three of them has helped me to become faster. As someone who played soccer for years, I find the team aspect of sport to be really important and love that we get to represent our respective squads in the VAL.”

And then there’s the prospect that has captured attention well beyond Stawell – the chance to race one of the world’s fastest women.

With a favourable handicap of 10m and in her best form yet, Carr enters Easter weekend with quiet belief, and plenty of upside.

“Regarding my handicap, I’m very happy with it! I would hope that I’m a good chance to do well off it, but once again the level of competition will mean I really have to hold my nerve.”

Whatever happens, one thing is clear: Emma Carr is no longer just part of the field, she’s one to watch.

Image by Neil Jameson, Jamesons Photography

 

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