The Bunbury Recreation Centre was the scene of two days of heart-thumping sprint-racing action.
Held on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, the first ever Westrac Bunbury-Geographe Gift saw Kiara Reddingius take out the 120-metre women’s final and collect $14,000 in the process.
Reddingius pipped Sophie Watts and Commonwealth Games athlete Riley Day to the post on Sunday afternoon.
“I’m over the moon, I have worked really hard this season and I am really stoked,” Reddingius said.
In the men’s division, Evan Jarvis made it two for two for the Curtin University Athletics Club.
The athlete clinched the 120m men’s final from Rupert Lugo and Jackson Symonds.
“I was pretty disappointed in my heat, I thought I was going down a slippery path, but i pulled it back together in the semi-final,” he said.
“I just came out of nowhere in the final and pulled it together.”
Reddingius and Jarvis both plan to defend their crowns at next year’s Gift.
Bunbury’s Kaitlyn Wilson won the 400m women’s final and the $4000 first prize.
Lewis Evans-Thompson finished third in the 400m men’s final.
Westrac group manager – construction Cameron Callaway was pleased to see the overwhelming support for the event from athletes, the City of Bunbury, spectators and sponsors.
“Colin Piacentini’s idea to create something major here in Bunbury was fantastic,” he said.
“It’s good to see the athletes really enjoying themselves and putting in a great effort.
“It puts Bunbury on the map a little bit more. It’s a great event that can become iconic.”
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