THE Community Bank Lancefield Gift returns to Lancefield Park on Saturday, November 14, promising its biggest event yet after attracting a record number of 591 entries from athletes across Australia, with the event continuing to establish itself as one of the premier meetings on Australia’s professional running circuit.
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,” he 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. A good portion of the winners each year travel from interstate just to run here, so it shows how highly regarded it is.
“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,” Dynon said.
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. Its resurgence 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 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.
While the 400m Gift will be the major attraction, Saturday’s program offers a full day of athletics, with races catering for elite athletes, masters and juniors. Racing commences at noon, with the following schedule featuring the major events:
Saturday’s Feature Race Schedule:
12.00pm – First race of the day
3.00pm – 120m Lancefield Sprint heats
4.00pm – 800m Lancefield Cup
4.15pm – 120m Lancefield Sprint semi-finals
5.15pm – 120m Lancefield Sprint finals
5.30pm – 400m Lancefield Gift heats
6.40pm – 400m Lancefield Gift finals
With record entries, Australia’s richest 400m races and some of the country’s best professional runners heading to Lancefield, Saturday promises to be the biggest celebration yet of an event that is once again putting Lancefield firmly on the national athletics map.
