TASSIE RUNNERS ALL SET

Tassie runners storm into the semis at Stawell

TASMANIAN runners have taken the Stawell Gift by storm with two going through to the semi-finals today and one of them setting the fastest time.

Jacob Despard, 21, of Hobart, clocked a sizzling 12.21 sec in heat 16 to go into the semis as an early Gift favourite and Luke Whitney, 35, also of Hobart, won his first Stawell Gift heat since 2012.

Their coach Ray Quarrell, celebrating his 40th year at Stawell by getting his men into the semis, issued a warning to rival runners saying Despard had speed left in the tank.

“It was a very strong run,” he said. “He was very happy with it but he said he can run better than that.

“He needed that run. The first run at Stawell is the one you want to get out of the way.

“He’ll run faster in the semis and we hope that’s good enough for the final.”

Veteran Mark Nichols, 40, continues to excel, winning his heat of the open 70m as well as his heat of the sportsman’s 100m (masters) to qualify for those semi-finals today.

“They are up and about, they are all running well,” Quarrell said.

Quarrell coached 2012 Stawell Gift winner Andrew Robinson, who became the first Tasmanian in 70 years to win the historic event.

He said the field this year was strong despite a handful of athletes being absent to compete at the Commonwealth Games starting this week.

“It’s still very strong and there’s plenty of quality here — the Stawell Gift is always bloody hard,” he said.

Semi-finals start at 11.50am and the women’s final is at 1.50pm and the men’s at 2.20.