Grace Carter is taking a big step at the upcoming Warrnambool Gift.
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The 14-year-old is preparing to race in the 120-metre women's open category for the first time at any professional running event.
"I just wanted to get used to it so I can go to bigger gifts and run in open as well," she said.
I just wanted to get used to it so I can go to bigger gifts and run in open as well.
- Grace Carter
The Gift is on Saturday January 2 at Friendly Societies' Park.
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Grace, who is taking on her second Warrnambool Gift, will also race in the under 18 120m and 300m. Both are mixed events.
The Warrnambool College student took third in the under 14s 300m mixed event at the Gift in 2019.
The youngster feels she's running better than last summer.
"I've been working on staying up tall and running in front of myself rather than keeping my legs behind myself," she said.
The teenager's pet event is the 400m - she wants to break 1:02 minutes - so she feels most comfortable over the longer distance.
Grace feels she'll get a tough handicap in the 300m so she's aiming to make the final of the under 18 120m at her home gift.
She and coach Jeremy Dixon (300m Masters) will represent the Warrnambool-based Inner Speed and Power squad at the Gift.
Grace is also a member of Athletics South West Turbines and Dixon is president of that track and field club.
One of Grace's major goals for this season is to make the state Little Athletics 200m and 400m finals.
She has also competed at the famous Stawell Gift three times and would love to do so again in 2021.
The young gun is also competing for the Turbines on Saturday.
The club has almost 25 athletes participating at Geelong or Ballarat.
It's the fourth and final Athletics Victoria Shield League round of the year.
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