In solely his second outing in an expert handicap race, Victorian teenager Ryan Tarrant has claimed a dramatic victory within the 141st version of the Stawell Reward.
Racing off a mark of three.75 meters, the first-year College of Melbourne science pupil flew house in 12.23 seconds to win in a photograph end from Nicholas Antonino (12.24).
The 2016 Reward winner Isaac Dunmall was third and 2017 champion Matt Rizzo was fourth.
Tarrant’s solely different outing within the professional ranks was 18 months in the past when he gained the 2021 Burnie Reward.
He’s additionally an completed monitor runner, having completed second within the under-20 200m last on the nationwide titles in Brisbane final weekend.
“At first I used to be fairly frightened, I used to be like ‘Rizzo was up so I’ve acquired a bit of labor to do’,” stated Tarrant.
“Then as soon as I acquired to about 60 I used to be feeling fairly assured as a result of I acquired into my stride and it was like ‘I am there, simply take it house’.
“The 120 meters is the glad medium … that simply works out completely for me.”
Kieren Mundine, the primary cousin of former rugby league and boxing nice Anthony Mundine, slipped at the beginning and got here house fifth.
The ladies’s Reward was gained by 16-year-old Bella Pasquali in 13.55 off a mark of seven.25 meters, with 2015 winner Grace O’Dwyer claiming second spot.
It was revenge of types for the Pasquali household, as Bella’s mom Anna had completed second to O’Dwyer eight years in the past.
“Me and mum, I actually stated to her just a few days in the past, ‘Mum I would in all probability be very upset however I would should chortle if I did come second to Grace. It might be very upsetting however it will be humorous,” Bella Pasquali stated.
“Once I gained the Rye Reward earlier this 12 months in January I noticed my time and my mark and I used to be like I’d even have an opportunity at this.
“I modified up my coaching, went from 400 coaching to dash coaching to give attention to it and all of it got here collectively.”
Pasquali’s father Wally was fifth within the 1990 males’s Stawell Reward last gained by Dean Capobianco.
Tarrant and Pasquali each pocketed $40,000 winners’ checks.
One other precociously gifted teen, Claudia Hollingsworth, saluted within the invitational girls’s 1000m handicap.
Racing off a 10m handicap, Hollingsworth – who will rejoice her 18th birthday on Wednesday – took down a area together with Olympic 1500m finalists Jessica Hull and Linden Corridor and Australian 800m file holder Catriona Bisset.
