Teenager Lucas Wright is $3500 richer after winning the biggest event of his athletics career at the Bendigo International Madison carnival on Sunday. Wright (23m) edged out Dominic Hoskins (21m) and Ryan Atkins (15m) in a thrilling Black Opal 400m final. Atkins made a brilliant start to the final and on the home turn looked set to win the race. However, Wright and Hoskins surged in the final 100m to claim Atkins right on the line. Wright, a Brighton Grammar student, ran the 400m in 47.43 seconds. "It's pretty exciting, I wasn't too sure at the end it was pretty close,'' Wright said. "I'm pretty stoked to get it." Wright was just in front of a mid-race fall that put paid to the chances of two of his rivals. "It was right behind me...I was lucky to get out of it,'' he said. Wright said the Black Opal had been a target race all season. "It's a race I've been targeting for a while. I wanted to win it. It's one of the biggest 400m races professionally around the country, so it was pretty exciting. "I've been taking it one race as I went. I've had injuries this year, so I'd just been hoping to make it. "I made it to the semi and was pretty happy and then made it to the final and was pretty happy. It's good to get the win."
Lucas Wright (pink) sprints to the finish line of the Black Opal 400m final. Picture: NONI HYETT
Teenager Lucas Wright is $3500 richer after winning the biggest event of his athletics career at the Bendigo International Madison carnival on Sunday.
Wright (23m) edged out Dominic Hoskins (21m) and Ryan Atkins (15m) in a thrilling Black Opal 400m final.
Atkins made a brilliant start to the final and on the home turn looked set to win the race.
However, Wright and Hoskins surged in the final 100m to claim Atkins right on the line.
Lucas Wright after his win. Picture: NONI HYETT
Wright, a Brighton Grammar student, ran the 400m in 47.43 seconds.
"It's pretty exciting, I wasn't too sure at the end it was pretty close,'' Wright said.
"I'm pretty stoked to get it."
Wright was just in front of a mid-race fall that put paid to the chances of two of his rivals.
"It was right behind me...I was lucky to get out of it,'' he said.
Wright said the Black Opal had been a target race all season.
"It's a race I've been targeting for a while. I wanted to win it. It's one of the biggest 400m races professionally around the country, so it was pretty exciting.
"I've been taking it one race as I went. I've had injuries this year, so I'd just been hoping to make it.
"I made it to the semi and was pretty happy and then made it to the final and was pretty happy. It's good to get the win."
