ANOTHER New Year's Day, another win for Mitchell Hocking.
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The scenario played out yet again as Hocking won the open 400m at the Maryborough Highland Gathering.
It was back-to-back victories in the 400m event at Princes Park and the third time in four years Hocking had won at the track on January 1.
The streak started in 2011 when he won the novice 400m.
In this final, Hocking started off the 19m mark and won in 47.128 seconds ahead of Jacob Reed, 40m, and Ballarat's Samuel Baird, 6m.
One of the first to congratulate Hocking was training partner Lonain Burnett, who only a few minutes earlier was in the same race off 24m.
The margin this time was much closer than a year ago.
"There were a lot of runners in front of me. I had to do everything I could to catch them," said Hocking.
The John Knott-trained athlete has had a busy summer playing lawn bowls for Bendigo in division one pennant and cricket with Strathfieldsaye.
Proud parents Steve and Kerrieanne, who had raced earlier in the day at Princes Park, were trackside.
A proud tradition began with Steve Hocking winning an 800m on two occasions and a 1600m win at Maryborough Highland Gatherings.