Vansittart Park was picture perfect for the long-awaited return of the Mount Gambier Gift and the athletes put on a dazzling show for those in attendance on Saturday.

The iconic running race ran in the region for just the second time in a decade and the first since 2019 and the action did not disappoint.

It attracted more than 100 participants from South Australia and Victoria, while many locals represented their region with pride enjoying the rare chance of racing in front of a home crowd.

The handicappers were on the money with the main 120m finals going down to the wire.

A new winner of the Men’s Gift was guaranteed with none of the six runners, including 2019 event winner Bryce Watkins returning to race which left the door wide open.

Only the fastest two runners from the three heats could qualify for the main event and competition for spots was fierce.

Samuel Blyzno threw down the gauntlet with a fast time in the openiing heat followed by Zavier Poole.

Local star Hayden Crowe lived up to expectations to win the second heat with a strong adjusted time of 12.676, one tenth ahead of Blake Jones.

Despite Max Coorey recording the best Z Score of 3.73, he missed out on qualification after Mayden Rothe made good use of his 13m handicap to win the final heat in front of runner-up Jack Norris.

A decent crowd had built up to witness the six fastest men complete the 120m dash for glory at 4.30pm.

Blyzno was the only man to beat the 12.6 second barrier and was rightly the clear favourite.

However, he and Rothe marked well behind their rivals and had to come from behind to win.

The big race was all over within 12 and a half seconds with Blyzno and Poole the top contenders.

The win went to Blyzno after he won the final push to the line by less than a tenth with respective racing and adjusted times of 12.556 and 12.568.

However, the loudest cheers were heard by Crowe, who wowed the home crowd on the inside lane to claim third place after a tight battle with Rothe, Jones and Norris.

Blyzno said he had to overcome an injury setback to get onto the top step of the podium.

“I have been in the shadows lately having just returned from an injury, so it is nice to be back out here,” he said.

“I was looking forward to racing in Mount Gambier, so it is a good one to win.”

The Women’s Gift was also a spectacle not to miss after another tight finish.

Both heats were on for young and old with the top three going through to the big one.

Kayla Lemm won the opening heat ahead of Tayla Philis, while Mount Gambier’s Shylah Fosdike scraped through after edging out Ella Byrne, Hayley Orman and fellow local Leila Croker, who fought hard from her handicap.

In the second heat Ellie Whittingham crossed the line two hundredths of a second ahead of runner-up Mikayla Round, while Isabel Ross also qualified.

The main race was a nail-biter as the top five were separated by less than two tenths of a second.

In her first pro meeting, local Fosdike was charging home from her 10.50m mark and approached the finish line in the leading pack.

However, she narrowly missed out on the win by 0.076 seconds after Lemm made a last-gasp push.

Philis completed the podium and was closely followed by Round, Whittingham and Ross.

After prevailing in the thriller, Lemm was overjoyed to take home the sash and the $750 prize.

“It is amazing to be back up here and thanks so much to the very generous sponsors and organisers,” she said.

“I have not won a sash in a while, so thanks for the support from my coach and all of my team mates.”

Despite Fosdike coming so close to glory, she stole the show on her pro meeting debut and easily recorded the best Z Score of 2.52 in the final.

Fosdike also competed in the 400m Women’s race, but could not keep up with winner Layla Watson sneaking three hundredths in front of Meg Miles.

Crowe’s Gift podium completed a big day which included three finals.

He also competed in the 120m Under 18 Boys event and came heartbreakingly close to the podium after Dylan Boyce, Isaac Marchall and Jake Underwood edged ahead.

But Crowe made up for it by snatching third in the 70m Novice finale which went to Danny Huildyard.

The locals received the chance to jump for joy in the Under 18 Girls 120m event thanks to promising athletics talent Leila Croker.

After easily winning her heat, Croker was dressed in the yellow for the final and saved her best for the clutch moment.

She slashed more than half a second off her heat time to win the final in grand style from Ross and Watson.

Only one athlete could break the 13-second barrier in the Over 35 120m final and that was winner David Wilczek.

He overcame Lisa Boyce and Vince Musolino, while Gino Geracitano claimed the Over 35’s 400m race comfortable from Wilczek.

No heats were needed for the 120m Under 14 Running Company Series event and Tyler Rowston outran his seven opponents.

After missing out on a podium finish in the Gift, Round got the sash she craved by winning the Women’s 70m dash narrowly ahead of Olivia Hastings and Bryne.

The rising stars from the Mount Gambier Little Athletics program also enjoyed the limelight during a pair of 120m and 800m races.

More than 13 youngsters lined up for the 800m sprint and Eli DeBreuk smashed the field finishing four seconds ahead of Saskia Brogan and Eva Povey.

The 120m race was a much closer affair with Elsie Mercant beating Sebastian Ricketts and Isobel Thompson to the line.