Australian sprint star Jack Hale has overcome a dreadful start and taken full advantage of an improved handicap to power into the semi-finals of the Stawell Gift.
The 17-year-old had his mark for the 120m handicap event wound out by a metre to 3.25m.
He clocked an adjusted time of 12.33 seconds on Saturday to emerge a clear winner in his heat ahead of Daniel Richardson.
"It was a shocking start," said Hale, who improved his 100m personal best to 10.31 in Perth earlier in March.
"When I hit that, there is going to be a lot of time improvement.
"I'm over the moon. Coming here 12.3 low was what I was going for so to hit 12.3 in the heats is really promising going forward to Monday."
Hale said he was more relaxed this year, having made his much-hyped debut at Central Park in 2015.
"The confidence is always there, just get through the rounds, get to the final and it's game on," Hale said.
"I'm more comfortable knowing what is going to go on with the atmosphere here and just soaking it in.
"I didn't really use it to my advantage last year."
Race favourite Stuart Rooke (8.5m) won his heat in 12.34, and beating his brother Tim (5m) for the first time.
"He used to be a world junior rep and I've lived in his shadow, and it was good for him to look at my behind for once," Stuart Rooke said.
Former Gift runner-up Ed Ware was also impressive, winning his heat in 12.28 off a mark of 9.25m.
Backmarker Mitchell Williams-Swain (1m), who won the Gift back in 2011, was a scratching.
NBA star Dante Exum's sister Tierra Exum, Talia Martin and Sarah Blizzard are the favourites for the women's Gift after Saturday's heats.
Martin clocked the fastest time of 13.70.
National 100m record-holder Melissa Breen advanced to the semis after finishing second in her heat in 14.18 off scratch.
The semi-finals and finals of the men's and women's Gifts take place on Easter Monday, with $40,000 on offer to the eventual winners.
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