Live: Gout and Kennedy miss out at Stawell Gift as Evans and Rizzo win finals

EVANS WINS!

John Evans is the 2025 men’s Stawell Gift winner!

Evans, the frontmarker from 9.75m, showed cool nerves to hold off the rest of the field to claim victory.

Wearing the pink sash, the Adelaide schoolteacher ran 11.94, finishing ahead of Jasper Thomas (6.50m) and Mitch O’Neill (4.75m).

Thomas ran 12.07 and O’Neill stopped the clock in 12.11.

Here’s the line-up for the men’s Gift final, scheduled for 2:20pm (EST):

• John Evans (9.75m)

• Patrick Martin (8.50m)

• Dash Muir (7.75m)

• Jasper Thomas (6.50m)

• Joshua Lotsu (5.50m)

• Mitch O’Neill (4.75m)

Ryan Tarrant has held off Lachlan Kennedy and Gout Gout to win the open backmarkers invitation 120m.

Tarrant, the 2023 men’s Gift champion, ran off 3.50m to win in 12.27.

Chloe Mannix-Power (14m) and Jack Hale (2m) were second and third, with Kennedy — off scratch — fourth.

Gout, running from a marker of 0.50m, was seventh.

Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy didn’t reach the men’s final, but their afternoon isn’t done yet.

Gout and Kennedy are about to compete in the open backmarkers invitation 120m, which includes both male and female athletes.

Women’s Stawell Gift winner Bree Rizzo has spoken with the Seven Network following her stunning victory.

I don’t know how to put that into words. It is an historic race.

To win it off scratch I never imagined that. My first race was off four metres and I got third.

I am actually speechless.

I wanted to retire at 23 and I am 30 this year and I am doing incredible things.

I guess it is the way the story was meant to go. Matt (husband) is a big part of that.

I am grateful to be here.

RIZZO WINS!!!

Bree Rizzo has won the women’s Stawell Gift from scratch!

What a performance!

Rizzo, an Olympic semifinalist, overhauled the rest of the field to claim a famous win.

It came down to the finish, with Rizzo edging out Chiara Santiglia (7.75m) on the line.

Rizzo stopped the clock in 13.52, with Santiglia second in 13.55.

Jemma Stapleton (11m) was third in 13.66.

She now joins husband Matthew as a Stawell Gift winner!

Rizzo is also the second athlete to win the women’s Gift from scratch.

We’re not far away from the women’s Gift final, which is scheduled to start at 1:45pm (EST).

Here are the finalists:

• Jasmine Rowe (11m)

• Jemma Stapleton (11m)

• Chiara Santiglia (7.75m)

• Armani Anderson (5.75m)

• Grace Crowe (4.75m)

• Bree Rizzo (scratch)

Here is how the men’s Gift final will look when they hit the track at 2:20pm (EST).

• John Evans (9.75m)

• Patrick Martin (8.50m)

• Dash Muir (7.75m)

• Jasper Thomas (6.50m)

• Joshua Lotsu (5.50m)

• Mitch O’Neill (4.75m)

Gout Gout has missed the men’s Gift final after finishing second in his semi.

John Evans won the final semi from 9.75m.

Gout was the backmarker off one metre and launched an almighty effort to almost steal victory.

Evans showed a cool head to hold on to win ahead of Gout in 12.10.

Gout will lose no admirers following his sensational run, finishing in a time of 12.34.

But well done to Evans on his triumph and he could prove to be the favourite in the final later this afternoon.

Joshua Lotsu claims the fifth spot in the men’s Gift final.

Lotsu won his semi from a marker of 5.50m, running a time of 12.23.

Gout Gout about to come up in the sixth semi.

We mentioned rain had begun to fall earlier in Stawell.

It’s got a bit heavier as the men’s Gift semis continue.

There’s a bit of a delay ahead of the fifth semi, apparently because of a power outage, but we’ll keep you posted on the result.

A reminder, Gout Gout is running in the sixth semi.

In a breathtaking finish, Patrick Martin (8.50m) claims the win in the fourth of the men’s semifinals.

Martin just held off backmarker Jack Hale (2.25m) to win in 12.29.

Hale ran 12.31.

G’day Marnie,

Thanks for joining the blog. Where are you reading from?

The Stawell Gift dates back to the 1800s, enjoying a storied history.

I’ll fill in more details as the afternoon continues!

Mitch O’Neill is the third athlete to progress to the men’s gift final.

Running off 4.75m, O’Neill booked his berth with a powerful display of sprinting to stop the clock in 12.21.

Jasper Thomas is the second to advance to the men’s Gift final.

Thomas, wearing the green sash and running off 6.50m, won comfortably in 12,17 and will be one to watch in the decider.

Lachlan Kennedy will not contest the men’s Stawell Gift final after finishing second in his semi.

Kennedy, the backmarker off 0.25m, tore down the track to pick off all of his rivals, except for Dash Muir.

Muir, from 7.75m, took the win in 12.18 to advance to the final.

Kennedy ran 12.23, with rain starting to fall at Central Park.

A great run from Kennedy, but congratulations to Muir.

Men ‘s semis start at 12:43pm, with Lachlan Kennedy in the opening race.

Gout Gout will contest the sixth and final semi.

Here are the six finalists in the women’s Stawell Gift.

• Jasmine Rowe (11m)

• Jemma Stapleton (11m)

• Chiara Santiglia (7.75m)

• Armani Anderson (5.75m)

• Grace Crowe (4.75m)

• Bree Rizzo (scratch)

Armani Anderson claims the final place in the women’s Gift decider.

Anderson, from 5.75m, pipped Olivia Hastings (2.75m) for the victory.

Chiara Santiglia’s Stawell Gift campaign stays on track following her triumph in the fifth of the women’s semi.

Santiglia, off 7.75m, just held off the fast-finishing backmarker Kayla Lemm (3.75m) to win 13.75 to 13.78.