Tiana Shillito goes back-to-back in Bendigo Thousand
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BENDIGO continues to be a happy hunting ground for Tiana Shillito after notching back-to-back wins in the Women's Bendigo Thousand Final (120m) on Sunday night.
Starting off 13.25m, the 19-year-old from Ballarat staved off determined challenges from Loryn Savoia and Hayley Orman to win in a time of 14.070 seconds.
Shillito was quick to declare the win as "even more satisfying" than last year's breakthrough success at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.
"Back-to-back is definitely a hard thing to do in athletics, I've come back a fair way from last year when I was off 16m, now I'm off 13.25m," she said.
"It means a lot more this year.
Tiana Shillito wins the women’s Bendigo Thousand 120m Gift! pic.twitter.com/eYdtGK6bqj
— Bendigo Advertiser (@BgoAddy) March 8, 2020
"I was hoping for the win, I definitely was. You can never predict who else might be here and what they might do, but you just concentrate on yourself.
"It was a tough field in the final. I've come up against those girls a few times and a few of them have beaten me before, so it feels good to finally get in front of them."
Shillito came into the meeting in handy form following a second at the Ballarat Gift meeting and 'a few other finals' appearances during the 2019-20 Victorian Athletic League season.
"It would have been nice to win at home, but I'll take this one. Two wins here have been nice," she said.
Next on the radar for Shillito is next weekend's Geelong Gift meeting, before a tilt at Stawell on the Easter long-weekend.
"I've made a few finals at Stawell, but no successes," she said.
"Hopefully that will change."
Shillito said she hoped to be back for a crack at a third win in 2021.
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