Sport
9 May, 2022
Montagner sprints to semis at Stawell
TAKING on the richest footrace in the country, 24-year-old Kayla Montagner has smashed personal bests and made her name known in the semi finals for the 70m and 120m gift at the Stawell Gift.
TAKING on the richest footrace in the country, 24-year-old Kayla Montagner has smashed personal bests and made her name known in the semifinals for the 70m and 120m gift at the Stawell Gift.
Being an avid runner since high school, the Dimbulah girl’s passion for running has taken her to the event in Victoria twice before. With that experience and knowledge behind her, she proudly placed 2nd in the 120m semi-final this year, a testimony to her hard work and dedication training up for the occasion.
“There was definitely a lot of nerves, excitement and determination because these events are always filled with many talented athletes from all over Australia and sometimes other countries so you can't get complacent,” she said. “But I was intent on making my mark and knew I had a chance to at least make the semifinals and maybe even a final, so I went out there with everything I had. “Now that it's over, I am a little bit more relaxed but also eager for what's to come next year.”
Although she just missed her chance of making it to the final gift, Montagner smashed her personal best in 70m with a time of 8.520 sec and 120m with a time of 13.873 sec.
Now Montagner is back home and preparing for her next big race in the Oceania Area Athletics Championships to be held in June in Mackay representing Regional Australia.
“After that, I'll be doing local competitions as the season for the Far North quietens down,” she said. “Another plan I'm considering is running in a few more gift races before Stawell in preparation. “I will most definitely be returning to Stawell if everything goes according to plan and fingers crossed that I would improve from this year and make the finals.”
