Halle Martin carries family legacy into Powercor Women’s Gift

Date: 5th March 2026

Relaxed Martin chasing Stawell dream in Powercor Women’s Gift

Despite growing up surrounded by Stawell Gift history, Halle Martin insists she isn’t putting extra pressure on herself ahead of this year’s Powercor Women’s Gift.

For the Ballarat sprinter, Easter at Central Park has always felt like a natural part of the athletics calendar rather than an overwhelming occasion, even as she lines up as one of the favourites.

“I’ve been going to Stawell since I was little, watching family compete and racing in the Little Athletics events, so it just feels normal to be there every Easter,” Halle said.

“To win the Women’s Gift would obviously be unreal. It’s one of those races everyone wants, and you never take lining up there for granted.”

Halle Martin enters the 2026 carnival in strong form after a season that has steadily built momentum.

Winning the Cobden Gift early in the year provided the first indication her preparation was on track.

“I’ve been really happy with how the season has unfolded,” she said.

“Winning Cobden early was a bit of a surprise and such a good way to start. It gave me confidence straight away and showed that my preseason work had actually paid off.”

She backed that up with strong performances at Bay Sheffield, making the finals of both the women’s 70m and 120m in front of one of the biggest crowds on the professional running circuit.

“Making the final in both the women’s 70m and 120m at Bay Sheffield was another highlight,” Martin said.

“The crowd there is huge and getting to run on the Saturday night under lights was such a cool experience.”

A victory closer to home may have meant even more. Ballarat’s women’s 70m final became a family celebration when Halle won shortly after her father Daniel Martin had taken out the masters 70m.

“Ballarat was probably the most special though,” she said. “Winning the women’s 70 at home is great in itself, but having Dad win the master’s 70m two races earlier made it even better.”

Running success is nothing new in the Martin family. Halle’s sister Talia famously won the Stawell Women’s Gift as a 15-year-old a decade ago, a moment Halle still remembers clearly.

“It would be really special,” she said of potentially following that achievement. “I still remember watching Ta win, she was only 15 and I was 12, so at the time I probably didn’t fully understand how much work had gone into it. Looking back now, I can appreciate it a lot more.”

Her connection to the sport runs even deeper through the Ballarat-based POD Squad training group, where she has trained since childhood.

“The POD Squad is a huge part of everything I do,” she said. “I’ve been training with them since I was about 10 or 11, so they really have become like family. With so many talented girls in the group there’s always someone to push you, which helps bring the best out of each session.”

That sense of balance extends beyond the track. Halle works in a clerical role at St John of God Hospital Ballarat and says maintaining a life outside athletics helps keep her grounded during the season.

“Outside of that I’m pretty low key,” she said. “I love seeing my friends, trying different coffee spots and getting to the beach when I can.

“I’m not someone who lives and breathes training all day every day, so having that balance between life and running is super important for me.”

That relaxed approach also carries into her racing mindset. “I definitely get nervous like anyone else, especially before a 400m,” said the 2024 Lorraine Donnan 400m champion.

“But I’ve learned that the less I overthink it, the better I perform. Sometimes I even have to tell my coaches not to overcomplicate things or put too much emphasis on winning. For me it works best when it’s kept simple.”

While the Powercor Stawell Gift remains the immediate focus, Martin is also excited by the prospect of racing on bigger stages this year, including the possibility of competing against global sprint star Sha’Carri Richardson.

“It’s also cool being able to line up against girls like Bree Rizzo and Morgan Mitchell and now potentially Sha’Carri Richardson who you normally wouldn’t get to race in other settings,” she said.

“The atmosphere, especially at Stawell, is hard to beat too. When the crowd gets into it, it makes it feel like you’re on the big stage.”

For now though, Halle Martin is keeping things simple. “I feel like I’m in good form and have put myself in a solid position,” she said. “Stawell can be pretty unforgiving though, so it really comes down to taking each race as it comes and executing properly.”

Main photo by Neil Jameson, Jamesons Photography; below supplied by H Martin

 

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