Stephens will race off the 11-metre mark in the second of nine heats at 1.32pm.

The Eaglehawk veteran will take on the likes of Cam Dunbar (6.75m), Craig Brown (3.5), Shane Ezard (7.25) and Nathanael Coull (8.5) in his heat.

Victory in the 2008 Daylesford Gift was followed by Stephens’ stunning win in the Bendigo Black Black Opal 400m raced at the Bendigo International Madison athletics-cycling carnival in March.

A previous winner of the Bendigo Thousand (120m), Stephens will be vying to progress to the semi-finals and then final in Daylesford’s classic.

The lead-up to the 100m will include Stephens racing in the 70m.

Bendigo’s Dujon Fuzzard will race off six metres in heat nine of the 100m battle, and also compete in the 70m.

Fuzzard drew heat five of the open 400m and will race from the 22m mark.

Lining up for his second VAL carnival, Fuzzard was in fine form at the Maryborough Highland Gathering on New Year’s Day.

Contenders for the Priceline Pharmacy women’s 100m include Golden Square’s Melinda Olden to race off six metres in the first of four heats at 12.31pm. Olden will also contest the women’s 400m.

There will be many runners from Bendigo Athletics Clubs competing at the Daylesford Gift.

The 3200m field includes Sailors Gully’s Peter Noden off the 30m mark in heat five.

Noden will also race from the 52m mark in the second of the open 400m.

Bendigo YMCA Harriers’ clubmates Caitlyn Hocking and Kirrily Burnett will contest the women’s 400m.

Hocking will start off the 20m mark in the first heat at 2.14pm, with Burnett off 44m in the next heat.

Other Bendigo athletes bound for Daylesford are Brady Threlfall, open 800m and 1600m; George Flack, open 1600m.Greg Hilson, open 800m, open 1600m, novice 1600m and veterans 300m; Kaine Leech, open 800m; Lee McCullagh, novice 1600m; Tim McCullagh, open 1600m; Phil Noden, open 800m and 1600m; Steve Campbell, open 800m; and Cody Williamson, novice 1600m.

Racing at today’s carnival begins at 10.30am when the 3200m cross-country is run.

Action on the track begins at 11.30am with the 800m heats.

Entry to the meeting is by gold coin donation to assist Camp Quality.