Stawell Gift organisers consider 148-year first for Gout Gout

The Stawell Gift is one of the most iconic races but organisers are considering a historic first to accommodate teen phenom Gout Gout.

Stawell Gift officials are reportedly seriously considering breaking 148 years of tradition at this year’s iconic grass race by placing crash bags after the finishing gates to cater for teen phenom Gout Gout.

The 110m race always draws a bumper crowd and that number is expected to be exponentially larger when Gout takes to the iconic Central Park track this Easter long weekend.

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However, with Gout known for a legendary late burst, similar to that of sprint king Usain Bolt, Stawell Gift organisers are looking at adding increased safety measures due to the finish area being tight, particularly for the backmarkers who are on the inside lane.

Both Gout and fellow boom Aussie sprinter Lachlan Kennedy will be in those inside lanes due to their sizzling times in 2025.

And with a wire fence just metres from the finishing gates, officials are seriously considering using crash bags and other added safety measures at this year’s event.

Crash bags are used at the world indoor championships for 60m events due to the short stopping distance after the finish line.

Stawell Gift organisers are considering making a change to the iconic race to accommodate Gout Gout. Image: Getty

Gout and his main rival, Kennedy, will have a closed training session on Friday night on the grass track, before a final decision will be made if added safety measures need to be put in place.

“There is talk of a crash bag but I don’t think we’re going to need it,” Stawell Gift spokesman Trent Taylor told Code Sports.

“We’re just putting all these contingencies in place in case they actually need them.

“We actually looked at moving the fence but we can’t do that unfortunately … we’re going to close the track on Friday night so Gout and Lachie can have a run.

“I think they’re going to be fine but we’ve got solutions which we don’t think we will need.”

Gout Gout handed major leg up on rival Lachlan Kennedy

There was a late push to have Gout (1m) and Kennedy (0.25m) re-handicapped after their starring performances last weekend at the Australian championships in Perth.

However, due to their incredible times being wind-assisted, the Gift has decided to keep the handicaps as they are.

Gout broke the elusive 10-second barrier twice, clocking 9.99sec in the heat and final of the U/20 100m.

The 17-year-old then backed it up with a sizzling 19.84sec in the open 200m final with a +2.2 metre per second tailwind, just outside the legal limit.

Lachlan Kennedy and Gout Gout have taken the Australian athletics world by storm. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

While Kennedy clocked a career-best 10.00sec in the heat of the open 100m before being beaten by just five-thousandths of a second in the final by Rohan Browning, who clocked an impressive 10.01.

Lachlan Kennedy to run off back mark

Due to Kennedy beating Gout by four-hundredths of a second in the 200m final at the Maurie Plant Meet late last month, Gout has been given a 0.75m head start over his rival.

The teenager has been given a 1m handicap for the Gift, meaning he will run 119m, while Kennedy’s 0.25m handicap means he will have to run 119.75m.

Reigning champion Jack Lacey was given a mark of 6m, while Jacob Despard and Ryan Tarrant, the 2018 and 2023 champions respectively, both received a handicap of 1.75m.

The heats of the Stawell Gift will be held on Saturday before the semi-finals and final is run on Easter Monday.

Originally published as Stawell Gift organisers consider 148-year first for Gout Gout