The Marcus Cooper stable-mates all saluted in their heats, with Ararat’s Blizzard setting the second-fastest qualifying time of 13.60 seconds in her heat seven victory on Saturday.

Crowlands’ athlete Julia Boatman clocked a time of 14.16 seconds in her heat 12 win, with younger sister Tiffany saluting in 14 seconds flat in the following heat.

Julia, who stayed track side to cheer on her sister, said she looked forward to her second Strickland Family Women’s Gift semi-final appearance.

“I didn’t expect it at all,” she said.

“I haven’t been running very consistently or doing very consistent training because I’ve moved from Melbourne to Albury.

“I made it through to the semi in 2011 before I had my ankle done, so this is my first season back after my injury.

“It’s anyone’s race, I really didn’t expect to make it through my heat so we’ll see how it goes.”

Tiffany said her heat win was also unexpected.

“I didn’t even think I was going to go so well in the heat,” she said.

“I was hoping, because I had a pretty good mark.

“It will be my first final or semi-final at Stawell. I just missed out on the 400-metre final last year.”

Blizzard and Julia will run in semi-final two from lanes four and seven respectively at 12.25pm, with Tiffany to follow her sister in lane seven in the third semi-final at 12.30pm.

Blizzard will run off a handicap of 12.5 metres, with Julia off 17 metres and Tiffany from 17.5 metres.

If they progress through to the final, they will run at 2.28pm.