Jacob\u2019s coach at the time Scott Rowsell said: \u201cWe put a plan in place but in the short time we\u2019ve had together we have achieved a big goal, Jacob puts 100% into everything both on the track and away from the track, he has risen to the challenge of a hard-working environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Talking about his winner\u2019s cheque Jacob said: \u201cI just moved out of home and that\u2019s a big expense, I\u2019ll save some, but I love cars, so I might put a bit of money into my car. This is the 6th<\/sup> time I\u2019ve been to Stawell. I was originally in the team when Andrew Robinson won and that fired me up, then in 2015 I made the semis but lost to Murray Goodwin who went on to win. So, for me, this is a fantastic next step in my athletics career. I\u2019m going to come back every year.\u201d<\/p>\n Pint sized elite beach sprinter Elizabeth \u2018EJ\u2019 Forsyth nearly blew her chances of winning with a poor run in her heat in which she ran third and only advanced to the semis as one of the fastest losers. She had started well but relaxed in the middle of her race and couldn\u2019t get going again. Her change of tactics when she once again nailed the start and then went flat out with the plan to hang on to the finish paid immediate dividends when she easily won both her semi and the final.<\/p>\n Forsyth, who is more used to running on sand than grass, stormed home to win the Women\u2019s Gift in a time of 13.685s. Second was Pam Austin with a time of 13.964 and third was Stephanie Jinks in 13.971, fresh from her victory in the Women\u2019s Handicap 70m on the Sunday. Anna Pasquali was 4th<\/sup> and a dead heat was recorded for 5th<\/sup> place with Amie Mittiga and Ebony Lane.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe it, I really didn\u2019t think it would happen,\u201d EJ said. \u201cI am beyond happy to be the Stawell Gift winner, it is the greatest achievement of my athletics career so far and I imagine it may just be for the rest of my life!\u201d<\/p>\n The sports science student at Griffith University was on her second trip to Stawell. EJ\u2019s coach Brett Robinson, who had previously succeeded with Matt Rizzo and Murray Goodwin, said: \u201cTo her credit, she delivered the race she needed to deliver – a lot of people come to Stawell in good form and walk away with donuts. She\u2019s an incredible athlete and her preparation has been meticulous.\u201d<\/p>\n In the popular Chris Perry Backmarkers Invitational Handicap 120m Mia Gross, Kendra Hubbard and Sarah Blizzard were pitted against the men, with Devon Allen taking the win in style off scratch from Michael Romanin and Mitchell Williams. Newly inducted Stawell Athletic Club Legend Josh Ross placed fourth. Leigh Phelan won the Jack Donaldson 200m and Tom Griffin took the Bill Howard 100m and Todd Ireland won the Hank Neil Masters 100m.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/stawellgift.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/2018_30_EJForsyth-150x150.png\")
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\nMeg Deane came home to win the Lorraine Donnan Women\u2019s 400m while the Herb Hedemann Invitation Handicap 1600m was won by Matthew Tonge. <\/p>\n