A record 591 entries have been received for this Saturday’s Community Bank Lancefield Gift, with the event continuing to establish itself as one of the premier meetings on Australia’s professional running circuit.
The Community Bank Lancefield Gift returns to Lancefield Park on Saturday, November 14, promising its biggest event yet after attracting an unprecedented 591 entries from athletes across Australia.
For event organiser Chris Dynon, the record response is a reflection of the growing reputation of an event that has quickly become a favourite among athletes since its revival in 2024.
“I get some amazing messages from the athletes after the event each year saying how much they love coming to Lancefield, so I knew we would get a really good response from them again this year, but to have a record number of entries is fantastic,” Dynon said.
“It’s a great event that brings hundreds of athletes and their families to the Macedon Ranges from all around Australia and puts Lancefield on show.
“Events like this don’t happen without our sponsors, particularly our naming rights sponsor, the Community Bank Lancefield and Romsey. It’s their support that brings all these people to the region.”
The Lancefield Gift has a proud history dating back to the late 1800s, when it became one of the major events on the Australian athletics calendar. By the 1920s it was attracting world champions, before eventually fading from the calendar in the 1960s.
Its revival in 2024 has been an enormous success, with Saturday’s meeting marking the third staging of the event since its return.
In just a short time, the Lancefield Gift has re-established itself as a feature event on the running circuit and one of the most important lead-up meetings to the famous Stawell Gift each Easter.
The centrepiece of Saturday’s program will once again be the men’s and women’s $6000 Community Bank Lancefield Gift over 400 metres, making it the richest 400m races in Australia.
While the prize money is a major attraction, the event is also building an impressive honour roll, with previous winners using Lancefield as a launching pad for outstanding achievements in their athletics careers.
The inaugural women’s winner, Bella Pasquali, went on to claim a bronze medal representing Australia at the World Indoor Championships in China just months after her Lancefield victory.
The men’s competition has also provided a significant pathway to Stawell, with the finalists from the men’s Lancefield Sprint in the inaugural year making up half the field in the Stawell Gift final. Lancefield winner Jasper Thomas went on to finish second at Stawell.
“Last year Ashleigh Palmer thrilled everyone winning the women’s Gift at her first race back since having a baby, while every single runner from the men’s sprint that went to Stawell got through to the semi’s,” Dynon said.
The women’s sprint has also produced one of the most memorable stories in recent Gift history. Last year’s winner, Charlotte Nielsen, used her dominant Lancefield performance as a springboard to the Stawell Gift, where she faced an extraordinary challenge against World Champion and Olympic Gold Medallist Sha’Carri Richardson.
Nielsen ran faster than any other woman in Stawell Gift history but was caught right on the finish line by the world champion. Footage of the spectacular race went viral around the world, attracting millions of views.
The connection between Lancefield and Stawell is becoming increasingly significant, with recent results demonstrating just how important the Lancefield meeting has become for athletes targeting the Easter classic.
“If you run well at Lancefield you are going to be one of the favourites for the Stawell Gift at Easter. The Lancefield winners have been second in the last two Stawell Gift finals, so hopefully we’ll see the winner here on Saturday,” Dynon said.
While the 400m Gift will be the major attractions, Saturday’s program offers a full day of athletics, with races catering for elite athletes, masters and juniors.
The $3000 men’s and women’s 120m Lancefield Sprints are another major attraction, providing an important opportunity for athletes looking to establish themselves ahead of the Stawell Gift.
The $1500 Lancefield Cup over 800 metres will also add to the excitement, alongside a range of junior, masters and open events.
Racing commences at noon.
