Isaac Dunmall clinches 2016 Stawell Gift win in thrilling finish; Jack Hale third

AFTER finishing seventh two years earlier, Queensland’s Isaac Dunmall stuck out his chest to claim the 2016 Stawell Gift, edging out a high-class field including sprint sensation Jack Hale.

Isaac Dunmall (left) wins the Stawell Gift ahead of (L-R) Tijmarri Sanderson-Milera (second), Ryan Bedford and Jack Hale (third) at Central Park in Stawell, Monday, March 28, 2016. (AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING

UPDATE: ISAAC Dunmall thought he’d blown it.

Two years ago the Queenslander made the Stawell Gift final but finished down the track after folding on the big stage.

Those memories helped inspire the 22-year-old to the biggest victory of his career on Monday when he nailed co-favourite Tjimarri Sanderson-Milera on the line.

“I thought I’d blown my chance in that race. I thought I’m gone, there’s no way known I’m going to win a Stawell Gift now,” he said about his seventh-placed finish behind 2014 winner Luke Versace.

Isaac Dunmall celebrates winning the Stawell Gift.

“Now to come back and actually do it - that’s insane.”

Dunmall stumbled as he crossed the line in 12.17sec and initially wasn’t sure if he’d got the bob in ahead of Sanderson-Milera (12.19sec off 5.75m).

Race drawcard Jack Hale ran brilliantly from the back mark of 3.25m but the 17-year-old Tasmanian schoolboy could only grab third in 12.30sec.

After recording the second-fastest heat victory of 12.29sec off 6.75m on Saturday, Dunmall called on those memories of two years earlier as he prepared for a second chance at glory.

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“That experience was invaluable, I got a lot quicker in two years,” he said.

“We didn’t do a secret trial or anything, like lots of squads do. I didn’t think it would benefit me much so I just believed in my training instead.

“In 2014 I said to the boys get around me with the bookies and I didn’t end up winning. So I learnt to be a bit more low key about it this year.

“The hype didn’t worry me much (this time), I was more focused on doing my own thing today.

“I was coming into this race feeling a lot more confident and a lot more energetic.

“I didn’t know this day would ever come - I really didn’t. This is crazy.”

Dunmall, who works in the finance industry in Brisbane, will go down as the only Gift winner to wear socks with little red fire engines on them.

“One of my training partners back up in Queensland started a silly sock day and I’ve just kept going on with the tradition,” he said.

“I do it in every race now.”

Originally published as Isaac Dunmall clinches 2016 Stawell Gift win in thrilling finish; Jack Hale third