Athletics
3 April, 2026
World champions headline Stawell Gift
The 144th running of Australia’s richest footrace is set to be one of the most exciting yet, with American sprint stars Sha’Carri Richardson and Christian Coleman lining up to take part in the 2026 Powercor Stawell Gift this Easter weekend.
Along with the international stars, more than 700 athletes will compete across numerous events at Central Park, including local up-and-coming athletes.
Richardson enters the weekend as an Olympic and world championship gold medallist, boasting a personal best 100m time of 10.65 seconds.
Known for his electric starts, Coleman is a former 60m and 100m world champion, has multiple relay gold medals, and has previously recorded 9.76 seconds in the 100m.
Stawell Gift event management chair Murray Emerson said the participation of the two stars highlighted the international appeal of Australia’s most iconic footrace.
“Sha’Carri and Christian bring global attention, but they also bring inspiration,” Emerson said.
“Their participation highlights the international significance of the Gift and the unique experience our grass track provides.
“This is a call to arms for locals, athletics fans and visitors from across Australia: come to Stawell this Easter and witness history in the making.”
Richardson and Coleman are the backmarkers in the women’s and men’s races, respectively.
But bringing together some of the nation’s best professional sprinters, Emerson said that all athletes entered with the belief they could make history.
“The Powercor Stawell Gift is the grand final of gifts,” he said.
“Hundreds of athletes come in believing they can win the two major races of the weekend.
“But at the end of the day, only two will – one man and one woman.”
Held the week before the Australian Track and Field Championships, the Gift will miss some of the nation’s elite sprinting talent, including 2025 sensation Gout Gout.
But some of the nation’s best professional sprinters are set to line up for the main race, including Wangaratta Gift winner Tom Perry and Warrnambool Gift winner Taylah Spackman.
After recently taking out Female Youth Sports Star at the Wimmera Sports Star of the Year awards, teenage sprinter Georgia Foster will compete in the Stawell Women’s Gift with an 8.25m handicap while also contesting the 70m and girls' under 18 100m events.
A contingent of athletes from Horsham Little Athletics Centre will compete in the numerous Little Athletics Victoria events at the weekend, including Jett Hill (100m, 1600m), Jack Sawyer (100m, 400m), Mitchell Sawyer (100m, 400m), Indi Finn (100m, 400m), Hannah Plazzer (100m), Stephanie Plazzer (100m), Scarlette Williams (400m, 1600m), Sophia Pickering (400m) and Alan Dube (800m).