James Bayliss and Layla Kinnane win Bay Sheffield Gifts at Glenelg Oval

A year after tearing his hamstring, sprinter James Bayliss returned to win the Bay Sheffield – while a schoolgirl won the women’s sprint. Watch the races here.

South Australian sprinter James Bayliss has reaped the rewards for his decision to dedicate himself to chasing Bay Sheffield glory after damaging his hamstring last season.

Bayliss came from 11m to triumph in the state’s richest footrace, at Glenelg Oval yesterday, beating Victorian Tristan Scheirs and Lachlan Dixon before crashing to the turf after running through the finishing tape.

And Mercedes College student Layla Kinnane, 15, is the women’s Bay Sheffield Gift champion after a stunning performance over the 120m distance.

Bay Sheffield 120m sprint men's final winner James Bayliss. Picture: Russell Millard

James Bayliss stumbles over the line to win. Picture: Russell Millard

Kinnane conquered 2013 winner Kiara Reddingius, who dedicated the race to Matt Barber, her highly successful former coach who passed away in October. Natassia Messent was third.

Bayliss had focused the Bay Sheffield after tearing his hamstring when he won the Victor Harbor Gift in January.

“I’ve been training so hard this season,” he said. “COVID-19 has changed things around. It all started for me after the win at Victor Harbor.

“I pulled the hamstring crossing the line and said to myself ‘If I can win a race that big, I can go bigger’, and here we are,” he said.

“I met a PT instructor at a neighbour’s barbecue the day after and he has completely changed the game for me.

“My season ended after Victor so it has been a long pre-season and long off season.”

It was an impressive effort from Scheirs, a long and triple jumper making his professional running debut.

Layla Kinnane has won the women’s Bay Sheffield Gift at just 15. Picture: Russell Millard

Bay Sheffield 120m sprint women's final winner Layla Kinnane atop the podium. Picture: Russell Millard

The end of Bay Sheffield 120m women’s sprint. Picture: Russell Millard

The men’s final was reduced to only five runners after Aaron Stubbs hurt his hamstring.

Asked if she could believe she had won the Bay Sheffield, Kinnane responded with an emphatic: “No, not at all”.

“This is my first season with the league (SA Athletic League),” she said.

“I’ve been running since I was 10 and want to aim at the 200 and 400m.”

An emotional Reddingius fought back tears when she spoke of Barber and his influence on her career.

“I came from the desert in Western Australia and started training with Matt,” she said.

“I wish I had known more about it when I won it seven years ago because this is such a special race.

“It is so prestigious.

When I was won I did not understand what it meant, but it is so special to me.

“I was 5m back from my mark seven years ago, so I was stoked to even make the final.” Men’s final: James Bayliss (11m) 12.291, Tristan Scheirs (8.5), Lachlan Dixon (11), Josh Love (9.25), Jayden Chambers (8).

Womens final: Layla Kinnane (10.75m) 14.280, Kiara Reddingius (5), Natassia Messent (8.75), Sophia Fighera (1.75), Olivia Hastings (11.5), Jenna Heath (10).