A SOUTH Australian teenager has upstaged her more senior rivals to win the $1500 Women's Necklace 120m Handicap at Maryborough.
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Molly Farmer capped some handy recent form at gift carnivals in her home town of Adelaide to claim the feature race in 14.49 seconds.
The 14-year-old, who raced off 6.50m, had earlier won her heat in 14.73.
North Sunshine's Megan McMahon was the fastest qualifier for the final and finished second off 17m, ahead of Keely Henderson (7.25).
Farmer said it was an unbelievable feeling to have beaten her older rivals.
"I'm lost for words to be honest," she said.
"(Being) in a women's race can be quite intimidating, having such older competition.
"It's also my first Victorian league race, but I'm so thrilled with the win."
Farmer conceded she had entered the heats with modest expectations.
"I was just excited to experience the race, hearing about the whole highland gathering," she said.
If she was nervous it did not show, with the youngster holding her nerve as first Redan’s Jacqui McCann and later Laura-Jane Hilditch broke at the start, each incurring a one-metre penalty.
"It didn't really put me off, I try to zone out at the start line and focus on myself only, not worrying about the other runners as that can be off-putting" she said.
"I was fine with the two-breaks."
Farmer, who took up athletics four years ago, rated the win alongside her recent victory in the women's 70m at the Bay Sheffield.
Her attention will now turn to a series of pro-meets in Adelaide.
A solid contingent of Bendigo athletes made the trek to Maryborough, with Lonain Burnett finishing third behind Melton's Stefan Catalino in the open 800m handicap final.
Burnett was one of the fastest qualifiers for the final after winning his heat in an impressive fashion, narrowly ahead of Bendigo's Jacob Nolan.
"I just got back from Adelaide on Thursday and my heat felt pretty good, but that last lap (in the final) I just had heavy legs," he said.
"Stefan has run pretty well over the last few seasons, so congratulations to him on the win."
Burnett will next target back-to-back meetings at Daylesford and Castlemaine next weekend, ahead of the Maribyrnong Gift on Australia Day.
Eaglehawk's Tom Noden and Bendigo's Kyle Hillson both qualified for the final of the restricted 400m handicap.
Kyle's father Greg Hillson and Eaglehawk’s Peter Noden finished just outsider the placings in a hotly contested women's and mastes 1600m, win in impressive fashion by Cassie Higham from Oakleigh South.