2023 Stawell 120m Open Gift

Hey guys been a while.I think we shouldn't head to stawell thinking this is a 2 horse race.last year Kerr and Lindstrom looked standards and it turned out that way but this year depending on which gift on 70 you put more faith in there is literally a metre between probably 8 guys.for what it's worth my final consists of thomas mekonnen newman perris Morris and issac d but I could make a case for 2 or 3 others if everything goes right.The womens gift on the other hand looks a formality barring injury but I will keep that one to myself.2 females who have been tipped on this forum are layla Watson and Olivia hastings and whilst I wish them all the best keep this in mind.hastings ran over 1.3 seconds slower than Morris at Waverley winning the 100 at beachside Geelong and Frankston this year and most other years the women's winner when it's 100 runs between 1.0 to at most 1.2 slower than the men's.morris won Waverley last year in 10.4 and Spencer won the women's in 11.6 and didn't get near the stawell final.morris has won again in 10.4 and Hastings won in 11.7 so all I can say is if hastings even comes top 3 which I doubt Morris must be over the line.layla Watson is one of those very positive stories of a kid who has always been above average but in the last 12 months made the big commitment to improving and has had great wins at Warrnambool and beachside as well as some high quality amateur runs.the problem for her next week is that she would be the first to admit she's never been and never will be a 120 runner and whilst I expect her her to final she can't run 13.6 at stawell as the winner will.good luck people and see you up there jim

Tips in no particular order
70m
Lacey, Romero, Smart, L.Mitchell, Ramsay
120m Men
Mekkonen, Morris, Perris, Bonney, Rizzo, O’Neill
120 Women
Watson, Hastings, Pasquali, Murray, May, Kinnersley
Bill Howard 100m
M.O’Neill, Sheirs, McGann, Warren, Baker
200m
Lacey, L.Mitchell, Bonney, McKenna, Tancredi, Pretorius

Hard Stawell to pick this year, so I'm going to put them in tiers. Tried to include all gift winners this year, also slotting in guys that should be around the mark

FAVOURITES
"Thunderstorm" Mekonnen / Morris

NEXT BEST
Antonino / Perris / Rizzo

FINAL CHANCES
Dunmall / Thomas / Vaitohi / Lacey / Nketia (if he runs)

SEMI PLACEGETTER
Newman / Nettlefold / Mitchell / Bonney / Tarrant / O'Neill

NO REAL DANGER
Ilett / King / Vi / Brittain / Hanna / Loukeris / Acquaro


Dwight K Schrute
Dunder Mifflin Scranton

Jasper nettleford to win easy

Year of the dead heat to continue - Rizzo/Morris Eq1

Will be fascinating to see Morris attempt to hold off tarrent who is only 0.75 of a metre behind him. Who ran a 200pb last night breaking 21 seconds in the process! Doing some quick maths in my head, Morris will need to be every bit of a 10.5 (100m) runner if not quicker to be taking this out.

Bill Clinton wrote:Will be fascinating to see Morris attempt to hold off tarrent who is only 0.75 of a metre behind him. Who ran a 200pb last night breaking 21 seconds in the process! Doing some quick maths in my head, Morris will need to be every bit of a 10.5 (100m) runner if not quicker to be taking this out.

You are spot on there Bill. Tarrant will be tough to hold out. Everything points to Morris being a 10.7 runner but I think Rowsell has a bit in reserve with him. He has done it with Despard before and I think he can do it again with Morris. Deserves to be the favourite

Thatsthestats wrote:

Bill Clinton wrote:Will be fascinating to see Morris attempt to hold off tarrent who is only 0.75 of a metre behind him. Who ran a 200pb last night breaking 21 seconds in the process! Doing some quick maths in my head, Morris will need to be every bit of a 10.5 (100m) runner if not quicker to be taking this out.

You are spot on there Bill. Tarrant will be tough to hold out. Everything points to Morris being a 10.7 runner but I think Rowsell has a bit in reserve with him. He has done it with Despard before and I think he can do it again with Morris. Deserves to be the favourite

Morris 10.7 runner , that's hilarious. Firstly he is every bit as talent Chico or Despard. Rowsell runners always seem to be a bit risky in terms of injury management. I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the  top dozen sprinters in the country next season.

Morris will have to be in the best few runners in Aus to win Stawell, as a National Bronze Medallist who scalped Dhruv and Aidan Murphy is starting 0.25m behind him!

Can’t possibly keep that mark, let alone 3.5 in Bill Howard.

Always look forward to Stawell. Great Atmosphere, and great to see the best quality in the country entered and running. To be the best , you got to beat the best. GOOD LUCK ALL.

Based on calcs both can keep their marks. As crazy as that sounds. It’s purely handicappers discretion whether they are pulled from PB’s. I think O’Neil having run in the VAL previously is more likely to be afforded his mark than Tarrant who is a first starter that has won a classic in his only interstate run. But that’s just my gut feel. Handicapper will make their own assessment.

O'Neill and Tarrant flying at nationals. Might be able to write Morris an autograph as they're strolling past.
Love to see runners chasing PBs and actually putting in the effort instead of hiding.

Just like I hid despard before Stawell when he ran at nationals Calcutta. Your funny. Your clearly hiding behind your profile.

Soon to retire wrote:Just like I hid despard before Stawell when he ran at nationals Calcutta. Your funny. Your clearly hiding behind your profile.

Believe me wasn't directed at you at all. Guilty conscience?

I just think we can all agree that we just want to see fair and entertaining handicap running. This years gift is sort of a fresh start for the men’s. Glad there are less cheaters and sash donations this season. Eg, it was a disgrace seeing Matt Dinan win the backies last year, glad he’s been exposed!

naughtycorner wrote:I just think we can all agree that we just want to see fair and entertaining handicap running. This years gift is sort of a fresh start for the men’s. Glad there are less cheaters and sash donations this season. Eg, it was a disgrace seeing Matt Dinan win the backies last year, glad he’s been exposed!

Stop outing runners NC. I’ve had enough of your tripe! The first half of your statement is correct but the second was uncalled for. You’re on strike 1 mate, don’t make me send you to your room.

chocolate_cupcake wrote:

naughtycorner wrote:I just think we can all agree that we just want to see fair and entertaining handicap running. This years gift is sort of a fresh start for the men’s. Glad there are less cheaters and sash donations this season. Eg, it was a disgrace seeing Matt Dinan win the backies last year, glad he’s been exposed!

Stop outing runners NC. I’ve had enough of your tripe! The first half of your statement is correct but the second was uncalled for. You’re on strike 1 mate, don’t make me send you to your room.

Fair enough, I was just sick of seeing Dinan donations last year, I’m just glad the field is even this years that’s all.

timrosen35 wrote:Morris will have to be in the best few runners in Aus to win Stawell, as a National Bronze Medallist who scalped Dhruv and Aidan Murphy is starting 0.25m behind him!

Chico was cooked, Murphy has been sluggish on the bend  ... those national times are inflated. No one wants to talk about it but take away  latest super spikes and field is running 0.2 slower. Morris will run 10.3s in those spikes on track. It's hilarious to say Morris is a 10.7 runner, he's very powerful. As context Sebastian SULTANA has run 10.27 in super spikes. Morris will easily run mid 10.3s in those spikes.

O 'Neil will have to make up 3m over the last 30m and I don't see that happening.

ASingularCalcutta wrote:O'Neill and Tarrant flying at nationals. Might be able to write Morris an autograph as they're strolling past.
Love to see runners chasing PBs and actually putting in the effort instead of hiding.

People keep getting deluded by times in latest version of super spikes. It's all about hype and attention, forget about facts. I mean it's literally mechanical doping, every runner wearing super spikes. You can't compare times to earlier generations. Technology has changed the game.

Lining up amateur time's to grass much harder now. These super spikes may enhance times relatively more on the track.

I never mentioned anything about 10.7 for Saye. And never even mentioned times for nationals. Just placings. But you keep ranting Silva. It’s what you do.

Some of you blokes don’t read to good. I mean well, you don’t read to well. What I said was “Everything points to him being a 10.70 runner. His recorded pb is 10.7sec His fastest rpm in VAL is 10.7ish. His 100yard Win had an rpm of, yes you guessed it 10.7sec. Now we all, including myself think he may be a little better than that , so we save hard and put a little bit of coin on our boy Saye. Rowsell is no mug and will have Saye trained to the minute and he is my tip to get the chocolates. Remember the more you punt the more you win. Just save the celebration till after the line Saye

Thatsthestats wrote:Some of you blokes don’t read to good. I mean well, you don’t read to well. What I said was “Everything points to him being a 10.70 runner. His recorded pb is 10.7sec His fastest rpm in VAL is 10.7ish. His 100yard Win had an rpm of, yes you guessed it 10.7sec. Now we all, including myself think he may be a little better than that , so we save hard and put a little bit of coin on our boy Saye. Rowsell is no mug and will have Saye trained to the minute and he is my tip to get the chocolates. Remember the more you punt the more you win. Just save the celebration till after the line Saye

Watch 100 yard replay he's pulling up mid race. Your logic everything points to Kerr being a 11.0 man pre 2022 Stawell win then runs equivalent of 10.69 rpm on grass. Read between the lines.

timrosen35 wrote:I never mentioned anything about 10.7 for Saye. And never even mentioned times for nationals. Just placings. But you keep ranting Silva. It’s what you do.

That's true but no shortage of such comments on other threads / forums.

If O Neil retains mark then the white tiger, Ant man, Mckennon no chance to hold him off. 20.9 speed v 21.6s runners , he's just too close to them.

Morris only one capable of holding him off. Backing up and recovery might be an issue. Not ideal 5 hard runs then 7 days racing again.

Silva wrote:

timrosen35 wrote:I never mentioned anything about 10.7 for Saye. And never even mentioned times for nationals. Just placings. But you keep ranting Silva. It’s what you do.

That's true but no shortage of such comments on other threads / forums.

If O Neil retains mark then the white tiger, Ant man, Mckennon no chance to hold him off. 20.9 speed v 21.6s runners , he's just too close to them.

Morris only one capable of holding him off. Backing up and recovery might be an issue. Not ideal 5 hard runs then 7 days  racing again.

Isaac (Quads of Fury) Dunmall to become a 2 x stawell gift champion. Morris and Ant-Man won't get anywhere near the powerful and experienced Dunmalllllllllll!

Top 3:
dunamall
ant man
morris