By Ron Lane
IT was the seventh year of the Noosa Gift and without a doubt it would could be rated as the ‘’Magnificent Seven.’’
Entries were an all-time record of 60, and with three winners of the Stawell Gift (two past and the present) in attendance, all was set for a great Gift.
With perfect weather and a good track, it had the makings of being the best ever and looking at the final stats they had it all; no-one walked away disappointed.
In the lead-up to the final, which was sponsored by the Noosa Surf Club, there was a major surprise when current reigning Stawell Gift Champion Isaac Dunmall, failed to make the final eight.
In the words of Bruce Duncan, president of Queensland Athletic League, “It is the biggest number of entries ever, but most important, it is all quality fields.”
It had a great atmosphere. Noosa officials decked out in bright floral shirts and the track rich green, and firm.
Well organised, well run and no upheavals.
All that was needed was a great final, and that is exactly what we got.
Running off a front mark of 18 metres, 15-year-old Noosa schoolgirl, Samantha Stanley, shocked the meet when she crossed the line in first place; just edging out Jarrod Whittaker 11.26sec and another Noosa member Zane Branco in a time of 11.40sec.
Now this bubbly young school girl has created history; not once but twice. First, by being the first female to win the final, and second by being the youngest.
Her time of 11.20sec means that by looking at a breakdown, she has run (at fifteen years of age) 92 metres in 11.20.
In the words of chief starter and organiser Ian Smith, “For someone so young this is an incredible result.”
With Samantha’s club-mate Zane Branco finishing in third place, it was definitely Noosa’s night.
Well done to the Noosa Elite coach Mick Hooper, who trains both Samantha and Zane.
The ladies 110m final was won by Patricia Taea in 12.7sec, second was Toea Wilis 12.76, and third to Larissa Chambers 12.99.
Patricia’s win makes her the first to win back-to-back ladies’ titles.
In another major final, the Pacific Ford 70m Dash, Brendan Seibuhr finished first, Joel Peters second and Johal Adamovkis third.
In the Under 12 Juniors, first was James Gelling, second Zac Ridgeley and third Luke Vitagliano.
James Gelling is another young athlete to watch.
Representing the Noosa Heads Surf Club in the major beach sprints Fastest Man on Sand, his performance was again outstanding.
Congratulations to all the schools who attended and lifesaver beach teams – it all adds to a great carnival.
