18yo NorthBeach speedster Mathew Short has won the first annual 120m Hamersley Gift in 40 degree heat at Charles Riley Reserve. His efforts of backing up less than 12 hours after running a season's best 400m (51.38sec) in extreme heat at WA Athletics Stadium was incredible. With no sea breeze, Mat amazingly braved the humid and extremely hot conditions to fly home and snatch victory in a blanket finish, by centremetres from fellow blue Josh Baharthah.

After a lightning start Josh lead all the way, until inches before the finish line. David Cicchini ran very strongly after being hampered by hamstring soreness to finish on the dais with 3rd place. Monique Nicolaou was the outstanding little athlete to make the final from the 26.5m handicap, she finished 9th. An excellent job was done by the WA Athletics handicappers with only a 0.03sec margin between the major place getters.

Well done and thank you to all the LA competitors in the race who braved the conditions and laid down the challenged to the senior runners!

Huge thanks must also go to all Hamersley Little Athletics Centre officials & committee members for the smooth running of the event. Also, Tony Krstisevic MLA, Julian Leach, Roscoe McDonnell, Henry Anscombe, Nathan Caccamo, Sarah Edmiston and Toni Phillips for helping out. Results below:

Semi Final 1

  1. Tim Branston 12.68
  2. Will Anscombe 12.75
  3. Dave Cicchini 12.80
  4. Matt Mahood 13.08
  5. Monique Nicolaou 13.08
  6. Jess Mondello 13.19
  7. Spencer Goldberg 13.27
  8. Beau Warner 13.40
  9. Ella Italiano-Schmidt 13.51

*Runners in blue qualify into final

Tim Branston wins this one from Will & Dave. Matt & Monique will qualify.

Semi Final 2

  1. Mathew Short 12.43
  2. Josh Baharthah 12.57
  3. Ben Clark 12.57
  4. Leigh Edwards 12.69
  5. Steve Rafty 13.17
  6. Paige Gavranich 13.27
  7. Joe Sabbagh 13.35
  8. Taylor Watson 13.44
  9. Tom Wisken 13.59

Mat Short just gets there ahead of Josh, Ben & Leigh ‘Mr. Finals’ Edwards.

120m Hamersley Gift Final

  1. Mathew Short 12.40
  2. Josh Baharthah 12.42
  3. David Cicchini 12.43
  4. Tim Branston 12.50
  5. Ben Clark 12.68
  6. Will Anscombe 12.71
  7. Leigh Edwards 12.77
  8. Matthew Mahood 12.78
  9. Monique Nicolaou13.02

Halfway mark of the final.

Mat starts to draw level with Josh and passes Tim.

Mat just pips Josh into 2nd place with Dave 3rd.

120m Hamersley Gift Winner 2011

Mathew Short