Emerging sprint star Grace Kelly wins Warrnambool women's gift

The 14-year-old won the 120-metre Warrnambool women's gift from the back mark in a time of 13.65 in challenging wind conditions at Friendly Societies' Park on Saturday.

She beat seasoned South Australian sprinters in Loryn Savoia and Hayley Openshaw to claim her first open gift victory in the Victorian Athletic League.

Sebastian Baird edged out Mitchell Tucker and Corey Baker to win the men's gift in 11.95 from the 7.5-metre mark.

Kelly said she was "pumped" by her impressive victory.

"It has been a long time that we have been coming to this gift," she said.

"It's fairly hard off the back mark as you never know when you're going to get there but eventually you do and this is a prime example of when you get there.

"Sometimes I haven't won anything at gifts and that was kind of tough but then this kind of win gives you a massive confidence boost and knowing I can do it and can do it from the back marker."

Kelly, who is part of the DPS Warrnambool stable, will continue to train as she eyes success at the Australian Track and Field Championships in April.

The triple Victorian 100/200-metre double champion said racing on the grass was good for her track race training.

South Australian Sebastian Baird was over the moon with his victory in the men's gift, which was his first sash in the Victorian Athletic League.

"It is super satisfying to win a final but today especially having come here a few months ago (when the event was abandoned due to wet weather)," he said.

"Not being able to race in the semi and the final then but coming back and getting amongst it again I am super stoked."

The 24-year-old said he enjoyed racing in Victoria and also in Warrnambool.

"It is so good out here and the rest of the Victorian meets are as well," he said.

"It's great competition with the other athletes from Victoria and we make it a bit of a road trip with the people I train with and we all come over and get amongst it."

Baird said his focus now turned to the the country's most prestigious athletics meeting - the Stawell Gift.

"Definitely looking for Stawell in a few weeks' time and just around the corner. That is the biggest goal of mine at the moment," he said.

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"I have run in the open gift (at Stawell) but have not done it for a few years now but I'm super excited to get back there again."

Baird, who is coached by IAAF-accredited coach Paul Young, is also a big fan of the professional athletics circuit.

"It is such a good atmosphere and you get the heats, semis and finals so it has this good build up," he said.

"Then the handicap system is so good and makes such tight races all the time.

"It's always good when you come out and maybe someone you weren't expecting has a really good day and pops up out of nowhere and you get this really good competition between other people."

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