Students challenge SA’s Stawell Gift winning teacher after his triumphant return to Blackwood High School

He’s the SA teacher who beat running sensation Gout Gout, now his students want to race him for bragging rights – and the results are in.

The Stawell Gift winner who beat Australian track star Gout Gout was given a hero’s welcome when he returned to teach in his Blackwood High School classroom on Monday.

Teacher John Evans stole the spotlight when he knocked out 17-year-old sprint sensation Gout Gout in the Stawell Gift semi-final in Victoria on Easter Monday.

The 28-year-old science, physical education and maths teacher clocked a time of 11.94 seconds – off a 9.75m handicap as Gout Gout finished second.

Mr Evans later claimed the $40,000 overall winner’s cheque, which he said he would save to put towards owning his first home.

Stawell Gift winner John Evans with his Blackwood High School students. Picture: Tim Joy

When he returned after two weeks of school holidays on Monday, his students showered him with praise and his win was announced over the campus’ speaker system.

“I looked next door and these different classes were clapping and cheering,” Mr Evans said.

“I felt pretty excited because you realise it’s bigger than you and it’s a bit of reflection.”

He spent his first day teaching regular classes, but found time to show them videos of his race.

“We set 10 minutes aside to go through some of the races and enjoy them as a class,” Mr Evans said.

The teacher hopes to inspire some of his students.

“Hopefully a couple of these kids will be like, ‘you know what, I want to try and do that’ and train really hard,” he said.

“There’s a lot of very talented sports kids here and it would be cool if I could get one kid to chase a dream.”

John Evans racing Blackwood High School students with year 8 student Felix Brokelmann winning. Picture: Tim Joy

Upon his triumphant return, Mr Evans’ students challenged him to a race, but started about 10m ahead of their teacher, a similar handicap he had against Gout Gout.

The teacher bore down on his pupils but year 8 student Felix Brokelmann, 13, held on to secure the win.

“Hopefully it will be a nice little memory for him to hold onto,” Mr Evans said.

Felix, who now has bragging rights after beating his teacher, said he was “very happy and proud” of Mr Evans after his Stawell Gift triumph.

“It doesn’t get better than this,” he said.

“He’ll probably want a rematch.”

Year 9 student Ayla Richardson, 14, said she watched the race during the holidays.

“Me and my mum were screaming at the TV,” Ayla said.

Originally published as Students challenge SA’s Stawell Gift winning teacher after his triumphant return to Blackwood High School