Stawell Gift athletics: Bella Pasquali avenges mother’s loss to Grace O’Dwyer eight years ago
A young teenager has avenged her mother’s defeat in the Stawell Gift against the same athlete, while another teenager has won the men’s sprint after a summer with Essendon footballers.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Eight years after her mother was denied a Stawell Gift victory by Grace O’Dwyer, Bella Pasquali has gained sweet revenge for her family.
The 16-year-old high school student from Wangaratta ran brilliantly to deny O’Dwyer (7m) her second Gift win, claiming the $40,000 winner’s cheque off a mark of 7.25m in a slick 13.55sec.
In a touching moment O’Dwyer, who won the Gift as a 15-year-old back in 2015, embraced Bella and her mother, Anna, after the thrilling final where she’d come agonisingly close to a place in the history books.
“We love Gracie and the O’Dwyer family but it’s good to get a win that mum couldn’t,” Bella said.
“I remember a lot of my mum’s races. She has come second a few times in the 400m and the Gift.
“But I do remember that one (in 2015) and I used to say to her, at least you didn’t come last. Back then I was eight so that’s quite a long time ago.
“I literally said to Mum a few days ago, I’d probably be very upset but I’d have to laugh if I did come second to Grace. It would be very upsetting but it would be funny.”
Anna was a 37-year-old mother of three when she was defeated by O’Dwyer on a cold, wet Easter Monday at Central Park, which was the exact same conditions which faced her daughter.
“It was raining, it was cold, I had three little kids who were having to be parented. It was hard work. At that time my kids were six, seven and eight, Bella was eight,” she said.
“I was off 14 (metres) and Grace was off 10.25 and she was in the blue. I was grateful she wasn’t in the blue today because I thought that was going to jinx us again.
“It worked out perfectly for Bella. It was just an amazing day for her. Bella has got a mind on her that’s better than I had when I was 37 and trying to beat Grace.
“She’s just cool, calm and collected, nothing fazes her. It’s an unbelievable moment for her.”
It’s no surprise that the oldest of the Pasquali clan ended up becoming a professional runner given her father, Wally, finished fifth in the 1990 Stawell Gift behind Australian Olympic sprinter Dean Capobianco.
On Anna’s big day back in 2015, Bella was enthusiastically recording all of her mother’s races.
“She was the one sitting on the sidelines writing in the wind readings and the first, second and thirds,” Anna said. “She was diligent. I’d get home and the whole program was filled in.
“She started Little Athletics when she was six and she just showed promise ever since. She won the 400 here last year as a 15-year-old in the open women’s category so she’s just got an adult’s head on her shoulders.”
Bella will now switch her focus back to her pet event of the 400m and is aiming to qualify for the Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago in August.
“That would be so amazing if I could do that as well as this, this year. It would be an incredible season,” she said.
Another young rising star of Australian athletics stole the show in the women’s 1000m invitational with Claudia Hollingsworth, who turns 18 on Wednesday, storming home over the final 20m to upset Tokyo Olympian and national champion Jessica Hull.
WOMEN’S GIFT
1st – Bella Pasquali (7.25m) 13.55sec – $40,000
2nd – Grace O’Dwyer (7m) 13.57sec – $6250
3rd – Nicole Berridge (7m) 13.63sec – $3000
How Bombers played role in Gift blitz
A pep talk from Essendon defender Jayden Laverde helped teenager Ryan Tarrant handle the pressure of a Stawell Gift final.
The 18-year-old Melbourne University science student spoke with Laverde on Sunday and 24 hours later came out and blitzed the field in Australia’s richest footrace, clocking 12.23sec off 3.75m.
Tarrant had trained alongside Laverde and other Essendon players, including full-forward Peter Wright and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, when they hooked up with his coach Adam Larcom for some extra training over the summer.
“Jayden Laverde and Peter Wright really helped him, they did a 10-week training block together,” Larcom said. “I asked them to go firm on him like a footy club because athletes don’t get that.
“They’ve been great for him and Jayden rang him yesterday to talk about the stress of the race.”
Larcom, a former Australian Olympic team relay coach, describes Tarrant as “untapped”.
“He is a guy who has been largely untapped, he’s super intelligent and has got massive ability,” Larcom said. “I started coaching him four years ago and he has just kept progressing.
“He did a PB a week ago in the 100m and 200m (at the national championships) so I knew he was on point. I think the thing that helped is he is really conditioned to run fast under stress.”
Tarrant, the hot favourite who was the fastest qualifier in Saturday’s heats, was stressed early in the Gift final when 2017 winner Matthew Rizzo started well on his inside.
“At the beginning I was pretty worried, Rizzo was up early so I thought I’ve got a bit of work to do,” he said. “Then once I got to about the 60 I was feeling pretty confident because I get into my stride there and then I just take it home.
“The 120, is the happy medium between the one and the two, that just works out perfectly for me.”
Tarrant maintains his impressive strike rate in professional events, he’s now two from two given the only other handicap race he’d competed in was the 2021 Burnie Gift which he also won.
“Burnie was 18 months ago and just like today it was a bit of a shock but nonetheless a great experience,” he said.
Nicholas Anthonino (8.75m) finished second with 2016 winner Isaac Dunmall third (6m) while boxer Anthony Mundine’s cousin, Kieren, finished fifth (6m).
After an impressive semi-final victory Mundine was unlucky in the final, slipping on the starting blocks.
“I think I was too nervous, I tripped over but at least I made it to the finals,” Mundine said.
Mundine had only entered the Gift on the advice of his coach to improve his speed ahead of a trial for a spot in the Australian Rugby Sevens squad.
“I’ve been playing local comp and played under 20’s for Souths,” Mundine said about his rugby future.
“I played with the youth team in 2018 who won the Australian championship.”
There was a sensation before the Gift final with Sage Morris, who’d looked good winning the opening semi-final, forced to withdraw because of a hamstring injury.
MEN’S GIFT
1st – Ryan Tarrant (3.75m) 12.23sec – $40,000
2nd – Nicholas Antonio (8.75m) 12.24sec – $6250
3rd – Isaac Dunmall (6m) 12.34sec – $3000
Sad career news after SANFL star’s horror pub fall
Sam May’s club has revealed what the 24-year-old said to his teammates in an emotional address last week.
‘Remarkable’ young gun setting Lions alight
At just 20 years of age and coming back from an ACL injury, the Brisbane Lions young star set the finals alight last week and earnt high praise from his teammates.