The St Albans Gift meeting has attracted more than 800 entries.
There will be 150 more competitors than last year and, as a result, organisers are tipping the crowd for the Victorian Athletics League meeting at Kings Park Reserve on Saturday to exceed 2000.
According to St Albans Sports Club communications manager Belinda Keenan, the gift is popular with runners because the Gillespie Road venue helps deliver fast times.
The early-season timing of the event has athletes itching to compete after the holiday break.
“The quality of the ground has improved … the runners like that because they’re getting fast times,” Keenan said.
A major drawcard will be national women’s 400-metre champion Morgan Mitchell, who has entered three events.
Mitchell is a western suburbs local who competed at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow last year. She put her name on the map in April when she claimed the national 400-metre title at Lakeside Stadium.
“It’s good for the stars who are in training for Olympics and things like that, that they do these events to keep themselves fit and win some money,” Keenan said.
“Being a local, a lot of people would have heard of her [Mitchell], particularly the athletics community, so we hope that will bring more people out to the event.”
Mitchell will host a training session for Little Athletics kids from 1.45pm.
“They all know who she is, so it’s exciting for them to meet someone who they can aspire to be like,” Keenan said. “They’re really excited about meeting her.”
David Fenollar was last year’s champion in the 120-metre open gift in a photo finish ahead of Nathan Riali and Cam Dunbar.
It is not confirmed that Fenollar will be back to defend his title.
The final of the Gift will be at 9.15pm with a host of other races taking place from 2.20pm to 9.45pm in what will be a bumper seven-hour meeting.
