Peyton Craig to Take on Peter Bol in Blockbuster Showdown at Stawell

Date: 4th April 2025

A thrilling new chapter in Australian middle-distance running is set to unfold this Easter, as Peyton Craig makes his debut at the Powercor Stawell Gift Carnival, squaring off against Olympic finalist Peter Bol in the highly anticipated 1000m Invitational Handicap.

Fresh back on Australian domestic scene and racing again, 19-year-old Queenslander Craig is ready to test his mettle against one of the sport’s most respected veterans.

With a decorated multisport background, including national titles in athletics, swimming, and triathlon, Craig has quickly emerged as one of Australia’s most versatile and explosive young talents.

In 2024, he burst onto the global stage with silver at the World U20 Championships, and later booked his ticket to Paris with a 1:44.11 run in Vienna. He went on to reach the 800m semi-finals at the Olympic Games, a defining moment in his rapid ascent.

“I love backing myself and pushing it to the absolute limit,” Craig said. “My Olympic semi-final was a huge moment of self-belief, and now I’m working with my team to prepare for this next challenge.”

His 1000m opponent at Stawell, Peter Bol, needs no introduction. A multiple Olympic and World Championship finalist, Bol edged Craig in their most recent clash in Sydney, finishing with a commanding 1:44.86. But with the unique 1000m distance and handicap format at Stawell, the playing field shifts, and Craig is confident the race dynamic will suit him.

“Negating Peter’s talent is always a big task, but I’m super excited for the challenge” Craig explained. “The 1000m is an exciting distance and I think it should be a very even match-up between myself and Pete, so it should make for a very entertaining race to watch”.

The 1000m Invitational Handicap shapes as one of the headline battles of the Easter weekend – a clash of experience and youth, power and endurance, played out on one of Australia’s most iconic stages.

“Having two world-class, versatile runners like Peter and Peyton facing off over a unique distance is exactly what makes this event so special,” said SGEM Chair Murray Emerson.

The Powercor Stawell Gift Carnival runs from April 19–21, with the 1000m Invitational taking place at 1.25pm on Easter Monday. Alongside the elite on-track action, the carnival offers a full schedule of fun for fashionistas and families alike with Fashions at Central Park on Easter Saturday, and mega-family fun on Easter Sunday with the Easter Egg Hunt, Powercor Liney Lifts, kid’s athletics clinics and more. Tickets are now on sale via Ticketek.

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