THE fastest athletes in the field face a huge task in tonight's running of the Sally Conroy Memorial 200m and the Richard Kitt Memorial 1500m at the Flora Hill track.
A big night of racing at the Retreat Road complex starts at 7pm when heats of the G.M. and G.L. Hilson Builders-sponsored Sally Conroy Memorial are run.
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South Bendigo sprint star Oliver Muggleton is a previous winner of the classic and will start off scratch in the fourth and final heat.
Muggleton's opponents include Eaglehawk's David Chisholm, 26m; and Bendigo Harriers' Abbey Conquer, 28m.
The scratch marker will concede a quarter of the race distance to Eaglehawk's Kevin Shanahan, 50m, when the gun is fired.
Runners to watch in the opening heat include Eaglehawk's Tim Sullivan off 27m, Bendigo Harriers' Caitlin Evans, 29; and South Bendigo's Kyle Hilson, 40m.
A multiple gold medallist across three Paralympic Games, Sullivan has a great knack of qualifying for finals.
Backmarker in heat two is Eaglehawk's Jesse Gray off the 12m mark who will take on clubmates Antony Langdon, 27m; Jorja Morrison, 29m; and South Bendigo's Emma Orme, 44m.
A first-year competitor on the track, Eaglehawk's Cameron Smith has a lot of pace and strength.
He will start off 4m in a field that includes Bendigo Harriers' duo Lachlan Carr and Josh Evans from 27m, and Eaglehawk's Andrea Archibald, 28m.
Top three in each heat of the 200m and next best four progress to the semi-finals.
First three in semis and next two fastest qualify for the final.
The same qualification applies for the Little Athletics 200m, sponsored by Intersport Bicknell's.
There will be no substitute if an athlete cannot progress.
Victoria's under-16 record holder at the 3000m distance, South Bendigo young gun Logan Tickell will be the backmarker off 2.45 minutes in the Richard Kitt Memorial 1500m, sponsored by Parker Electrical.
A quality field includes University's Billy Meade, 2.35; University's Melissa Douglas, 20, and James Russell, 55; and South Bendigo's Debby Kirne, 40, and Genevieve Nihill, 1.50.
Bendigo Harriers to watch include Anne Buckley, 1.20; Geoff Jordan, 1.00; Jill Wilkie, 1.45; and Brett Gilligan, 2.30.
Last year's winner, Greg Hilson from South Bendigo will start off the 2.05 mark.
Heats of the Little Athletics 200m will be at 7.20pm, and the 800m at 7.35pm.
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Semis of the Conroy Memorial will be at 7.45pm and the Richard Kitt Memorial 1500m at 8pm.
Little Athletes will contest the 200m final at 8.20pm.
The Conroy final at 8.30pm will cap the night's racing.
