Six-time Scottish champion sprinter Stacey Downie will arrive in Stawell on Saturday to compete in the Lorraine Donnan Women’s Handicap 400m and the TAC Jack Donaldson 200m.
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The 30-year-old teacher from Edinburgh thought it made sense to stop in Stawell on the way to the Commonwealth Games, where she is spectating after missing out on a spot in the 4x400m relay by 0.3 seconds.
“I’ve entered because it’s very good timing. I’ve got this free weekend before the Commonwealth Games as we’re (Downie and boyfriend Callum) coming across for that,” she said.
“I’ve loved the event because of the atmosphere, when the finals are on its such a big event it’s on TV.
“Handicapped running is not based on how well you run on times, but how well you run off your mark, so for me it’s a bit more competitive and that’s why I’m looking forward to it.”
Downie grew up training on grass as “we didn’t have a running track”.
“Pro running is popular in Scotland but our grass isn’t as good as your grass – it’s very bumpy and often run with horses on it.
“I’ve always run in these events but the Stawell Gift is special.”
Downie competed in the Stawell Gift in 2005.
“I was only 17 and I made the semi-finals of the 120m and the finals of the 400m,” she said.
“It was the year Josh Ross won his second Stawell Gift and I would love to see him again.”
Downie is originally from West Linton, a small town in Scotland where no less than three members of the Commonwealth Games team hail from.
Stawell Gift afficianados will recall Scotsman George McNeill who famously is the only person “to win both of the most famous professional footraces in the world – the New Year Sprint (1970) in Scotland and the Australian equivalent – the Stawell Gift (1981).”
After several attempts at Stawell, McNeill returned in 1981 for the 100th Stawell Gift.
Running off 4m and in one of the most exciting races ever, McNeill ran brilliantly to win the Gift at his ninth attempt in the time of 11.9 seconds.
McNeill still remains the oldest winner of the Stawell Gift, another record 37-year-old Josh Ross could take if he wins this year.
Stacey said she was the favourite to win the New Year Sprint “a couple of years ago but had acquired a hamstring injury.”
Devon Allen, the American college footballer and Olympic hurdler who is currently in Australia, will compete in the Stawell Gift as a wild card entry.
He won both the Devonport Gift in December and the Sydney Grand Prix this month.
