Despite all the doubts, fears and worries about the 2021 Stawell Gift going ahead, a massive field of competitors have entered across all different races, including the two showpiece events.
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In the Men's 120 metres Open Gift 130 different men have put their names forward to have a go at winning Australia's richest footrace.
In 2019, Melbourne's Dhruv Rodgrigues Chico, who won the Men's 120 metres Open Gift off a handicap of 7 metres, will have to run the in the 2021 event from 0.75 metres.
That is a big ask for someone looking to become the first man to win back-to-back Stawell Gift's since Bill Howard in 1966-67.
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Other competitors to watch in the Open Gift are 2018 champion Jacob Despard who has a 1.25 metre handicap and Jack Boulton, winner of the Parkdale Gift earlier in 2021, who will be running off 5.75 metres.
It is a similar story in the 120 metres Women's Gift with a field of 84 competitors hoping to take home the trophy.
Much like Rodgrigues Chico, 2019 winner Lexi Louzo will be fighting hard to defend her crown, having to come off just 0.5 metres in 2021.
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In 2019 Louzo claimed the win by just 0.08 seconds from close friend Sophia Fighera.
Fighera will also have her work cut out as she will be running off just 1 metre as she tries to go one better than 2019.
Finally, 16-year-old sprinting sensation Torrie Lewis will also be a backmarker with a mark of 0.5 metres after she claimed the Queensland 100 metres and 200 metres state titles earlier in 2021.
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