EXCITING FINISH: Gabrielle Henthorn, in grey, wins the Sally Conroy Memorial 200m ahead of Dane Heiden, green. Picture: BRENDAN McCARTHY
EAGLEHAWK’S Gabrielle Henthorn capped her first runs in the Sally Conroy Memorial 200m by winning Sunday’s final at the Bendigo International Madison athletics-cycling carnival.
Racing before hundreds of spectators at the Tom Flood Sports Centre, Henthorn hit the front at the top of the lengthened finishing straight and was not overtaken as she won in 22.8 seconds.
In an exciting finish, Henthorn beat South Bendigo’s Dane Heiden (15m, green singlet) in 23 seconds, and Hawks’ clubmate Tom Savage (10, blue) in 23.2.
Racing off scratch, Bendigo Harriers’ Brett Gilligan (red) was fourth in 23.3 ahead of Spain Ndikumanu 23.5secs(10, BH, yellow); Shannon Dillon 23.7secs (42, Eh, black); Billy McNally 23.9secs (9, SB, white); Hannah Jordan 24secs (45, BH, orange); and Emily Jordan 24.3secs (39, BH, pink).
In the lead-up to her heat, in which she was second and then final, Henthorn gained some tips from 16-year-old brother Josh, who was racing in some of the Victorian Athletic League events at the carnival.
“It was a really tough race,” Gabrielle said. “When I saw no-one in front of me I just had to keep my eye on the finish line,” she said.
The 15-year-old has competed at Little Athletics state titles and was rapt to have won such a prestigious event on the Athletics Bendigo calendar.
Her parents, Kay and Russell were trackside at the madison.
It’s not just sprints Gabrielle Henthorn has excelled at.
The year 9 student at Catholic College Bendigo has qualified to contest the under-15s javelin and shot put at the Little Athletics Victoria state titles being run on March 23 and 24 at the La Trobe University Bendigo athletics complex in Flora Hill.