Jack Hale and Nyajima Jock wins men’s and women’s Ballarat Gift
Ballarat’s Nyajima Jock continued a dream summer, claiming her first women’s Ballarat Gift with Tasmania’s Jack Hale winning the men. Here is a wrap of the day from City Oval.
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Ballarat’s Nyajima Jock won’t forget the summer of 2025 in a hurry after adding the Ballarat Gift to her impressive performances for the season.
The 22-year-old took out the title on Sunday at City Oval, beating last year’s winner Ruby Crisp and training teammate Mackenzie Estlick who finished second and third.
Starting from 4m, the longest out of everyone in the final, Jock charged to the line to just edge out her rivals.
She has now won the Ballarat Gift, the Maryborough Gift and has also broken the Ballarat open record times for the 100m and 200m in the space of a month and a bit.
Jock revealed she was a bit nervous running from 4m instead of 6m, which she had done in Maryborough.
But with home track advantage and a strong crowd cheering her on she was able to overcome the obstacle.
“I did have belief and confidence in the four to get me the win but I was nervous,” she said.
“I had the comfortability being at 6m but being at 4m and coming into the final and being the backmarker and having Ruby (Crisp) there, there were definitely nerves.
“We do a lot of work here on the oval with Gerrard (Keating my coach).
“There’s that familiarity with training here and coming here it takes off a bit of those nerves.”
The sprint star said focusing on her technique allowed her to overcome her rivals in the close finish.
Jock said her next focus was the upcoming state titles where she will compete in the 200m.
“It’s my third season in open, so hopefully I can do a PB and get a medal,” she said.
“We’ll get that done and see what we do next.”
Jock said that could include the Stawell Gift.
“I wouldn’t mind having a crack,” she said.
“We’ll see what me and my coach reckon, whether we should lead there.”
In the men’s, Tasmania’s Jack Hale showed he’s still got plenty to give in athletics.
After a horror run with injury the 26-year-old bounced back to claim the Gift from a 2m handicap.
He blew away his rivals to take the win.
“I’m so excited to be back running,” he said.
“I’m in a much better position than I’ve been for years.
“A good day to get out there, run three good races over 24 hours and show what I’m capable of this year.
“This was a side quest that turned into a good fun weekend of racing.”
While one weekend doesn’t make a comeback complete the win has Hale dreaming he can make a return to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.
“I think the fact we have a Comm Games in a year and a half for me is fantastic,” he said.
“I’ll be 28 in the next one.
“I did count myself out a little bit about nine months ago (due to injury).
“So to have something to look forward like that for me is something I need.”
For now though the focus is on the nationals in April.
And he might then add the Stawell Gift to his schedule if everything goes to plan.
“I’ve been there multiple times so I think the stars are aligning a bit this year where it’s the week following nationals for me,” he said.
“The event I’m prioritising in nationals to be able to follow on the week after could be a goer.”
PREVIEW
One of the fastest sprinters in the country is set to return at the Ballarat Gift in what is shaping to be one of the biggest events in years.
Tasmanian Jack Hale has been included in the entry list for the Gift, which will be held on Sunday at City Oval.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games 4x100m competitor has been on the sidelines in recent months but will have a crack at the event, which was last year won by Ballarat’s Cooper Sherman.
“He rang up and said ‘I want to run’,” Ballarat Athletic Club and organiser Andrew Hoffmann said.
“He’s off two metres in the Gift, which is probably a good mark for him.
“He’s only got to be three quarters fit I’d say to nearly take it out.”
Hale is not the closest competitor to scratch with world beach sprint champion Michael Hanna taking the honour running off 1.75m.
Hanna won the 2020 Gift.
Others in contention include Jake Ireland (3.75m) and Jesse McKenna (2.75).
In the women’s, Ruby Crisp returns to defend her title from a 13.75m handicap.
She will be joined by 2013 winner and Ballarat’s Holly Dobbyn who is running from a 6.75m handicap.
Hoffmann said it was her first major event in two years after injury setbacks but she would still be one to watch.
2015 Stawell Gift winner Grace O’Dwyer will run from the longest distance with a 3.75m handicap.
Hoffmann said the event had record numbers, eclipsing the previous best in 2014.
He added the strong numbers came from not only a boost in Gift entrants but competitor numbers rising in other events.
“The junior boys and girls gift is the richest one in Australia,” he said.
“They are racing for 1500 dollar each.
“So there’s 30 or 40 of those number who propped it up.
“The 550m masters, people over 35, is also really well supported.
“And the gift numbers are also up from previous.
“It’s those three events which really put us over the number, which we are quite proud of.”
The Gift starts on Saturday and finishes on Sunday.
Entry is a gold coin donation with the event to also be livestreamed on Kayo.
Originally published as Jack Hale and Nyajima Jock wins men’s and women’s Ballarat Gift
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