The grass-track athletics meeting went ahead for the first time in 13 years last November and organisers are keen make it a showcase in years to come.

Stawell Athletic Club (SAC) committee member Kate Williamson said the gift had potential to grow, a belief which prompted her club to step in and help.

SAC runs the Stawell Gift, a three-day carnival at Easter which features the richest foot race in Australia and garners national TV coverage.

“The Warrnambool Gift ran last year for the first time in 13 years between the Warrnambool City Council and the Victorian Athletics League (VAL),” Williamson said.

“I’m a member of the Stawell Athletic Club that runs the Stawell Gift but I live in Warrnambool.

“After last year’s gift I took it to the council, the VAL and Stawell (athletic club) that we work collaboratively on this year’s gift.

“We want to make sure we create a gift with continuity for Warrnambool because it’s come and gone before.”

Williamson said 248 runners contested the 2013 Warrnambool Gift “and we’re hoping to build on that”.

The 2014 edition is on November 29 at Friendly Societies’ Park. There are eight races for men, women, veterans and under 20s, with prizemoney totalling $6000.

The 3000-metre women’s and veterans’ handicap is named after Warrnambool runner Jayne McMeel, who lost her cancer fight in August. 

“We want to advertise it a lot locally so we can build it year-on-year and have a good event now and in the future,” Williamson said.

“The Terang Gift runs the next day so we’re looking to link the two together so people can see what the south-west has to offer.”

Warrnambool City Council events and promotions manager Merran Fyfe said the council was pleased to be an event partner.

“This is a great initiative for Warrnambool and I am excited to see the Stawell Athletic Club playing such a major role in developing athletics in the region,” she said.

“Council supports a range of sporting clubs with new and existing events and it is always exciting to see something like this in our city.”