Sprinting sensation Gout Gout will have to better Stawell Gift heat pacesetter John Evans if he is to make the final of the 2025 Stawell Gift.

Evans, 28, a teacher from Adelaide, ran 12:13 on Saturday to set the fastest time.

All eyes will be on the final semi-final six as Evans, off a 9.75m handicap, will be tasked with holding off sprint sensation and crowd favourite Gout Gout starting off 1m. 

Lachlan Kennedy, with the third fastest heat time on Saturday, kicks off semi final one with fellow Australian relay squad member Jacob Despard off 1.75m and one of the favourites, teenager Dash Muir off 7.75m.

Jack Hale is the backmarker off 2.25m in semi four and needs to catch Tim Delahunty 8.25m and Patrick Martin off 8.5m. 

Bree Rizzo and Chloe Mannix-Power will wear the red off their scratch marks in the women’s semis.  

Jasmine Rowe will head heat one of the semi-finals as the front marker trying to hold off Kayla Montagner off 7m and backmarker and 2019 Women's Gift champion Alexia Loizou.

Defending champion Chloe Mannix-Power will have her work cut out trying to catch second fastest in the heats Jemma Stapleton out the front on 11m.

Semi-final four will see top hope Bree Rizzo hunting down a group with Amber van Eede in the front off 10.25. Third fastest in the heats Chiara Santiglia goes head-to-head with earlier favourite Jess Mead in semi five.

The Powercor Women’s Gift semi-finals commence at noon with the final at 1:45pm. The Powercor Stawell Gift Semi Finals start at 12:43pm with the final at 2:20pm.