Taylah Spackman: Building Toward a Stawell Breakthrough

Date: 24th March 2026

South Australian sprinter Taylah Spackman is emerging as a contender for the 2026 Powercor Women’s Gift, carrying strong form into Easter following a new training set up and a series of standout performances. Don’t be surprised to see her in the final this Easter Monday.

At 24, the Adelaide-based athlete has spent the off-season reshaping her approach to the sport. A coaching change saw her join the HPC track squad under Dan Semmler, a move she describes as one of the best decisions she’s made.

“It’s my first time being part of a squad,” Taylah says. “Dan and the group have been so supportive. It’s exciting training alongside people who inspire me in competition.”

Semmler’s credentials speak for themselves, having coached Hayley Orman to Stawell success in 2021. That connection alone adds a layer of intrigue to Taylah’s campaign, with the pathway from training group to Central Park finals already well established.

After months of adapting to a new regime and “experimenting with different things,” Taylah says she’s feeling as good as she has in some time.

“I’m feeling great at the moment and excited to compete at Stawell this year,” she says. “But as for winning chances… it’s a ‘how long is a piece of string?’ situation until the handicaps are released.”

That uncertainty is part of the theatre of professional running, and Spackman embraces it. The handicapping system, she says, is what makes the sport so uniquely compelling.

“Everyone has a place. You can line up against anyone – from beginners to Olympians – and the aim is that whoever performs best on the day can win. It makes for such an entertaining atmosphere.”

Still, if recent form is any guide, Spackman will take some stopping. Her 2024 season was headlined by a stunning Bay Sheffield double, claiming both the 70m and 120m events, an achievement that elevated her standing nationally.

“The feeling was incredible,” she recalls. “At the time, I thought it couldn’t be topped.”

But 2025 delivered new highlights. A win at the Warrnambool Gift early in the season off the back of what she describes as a “crazy, but good” pre-season, caught even her by surprise.

“That one probably stands out the most this season,” she says, while also pointing to strong showings at the Frankston and Beachside Gifts.

Looking ahead to Stawell, Taylah is set to contest the prestigious 120m Powercor Women’s Gift. Predicting her handicap is no easy task, particularly with international star Sha’Carri Richardson potentially reshaping the field.

“Two weeks ago I thought (a handicap of) around 5m would be reasonable,” she says. “Now, assuming she’s off scratch, maybe 7 or 8m, but it’s hard to know.”

What is clear is that Spackman’s trajectory is trending upward at the right time.

This year will mark just her second appearance at Stawell, but the significance of the event is not lost on her. Like many, she grew up watching the famous finals, imagining what it might feel like to be part of them.

“To win Stawell would be like winning Bay on steroids,” she says. “There’s just so much history and prestige, it would be such an honour.”

Away from the track, Spackman balances her athletic ambitions with a busy and grounded life. She is currently studying Physiotherapy, having previously completed a degree in Veterinary Technology, and spends much of her downtime in the gym. When she can, she indulges in her other passions, snowboarding and playing piano.

It’s that balance, combined with a fresh training environment and proven race pedigree, that makes her such a compelling prospect heading into Easter.

She may not be declaring herself the one to beat but don’t mistake that for a lack of belief.

In a sport where timing, form, and a few metres of handicap can change everything, Taylah Spackman is shaping as the kind of athlete who could put it all together when it matters most.

Main image: by Neil Jameson, Jamesons Photography

Below: by Jenny Poole, SAAL 

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