Mailors Flat's Jesse Suter says winning the Terang Junior Gift has given him confidence for future sprinting events.
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The 13-year-took out his first gift on Sunday in the under 16s 100 metre race.
"I was pretty happy and proud of myself because I was starting off in the red vest (the backmarker) and from scratch," he said.
The youngster had to run the full 100m and surge past opponents to claim the trophy.
He said rising to that challenge has given him some belief for the futures races.
"It does actually because being a backmarker you get quite worried because you're so far behind everyone," he said.
"So winning has given me some confidence for future events I'm going to run in."
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The fleet-footed sprinter, who attends Warrnambool College, made the final off the back of a heat time of 11.69 seconds.
Suter had to contend with wet weather at Terang Recreation Reserve.
"I had to be a bit careful doing my warm up because it was a bit slippery," he said.
"But it didn't rain when I raced."
Suter, who trains with Warrnambool-based club Inner Speed and Power, said he had his sights set on next year's Stawell Gift.
Warrnambool's Grace Carter, who is also coached by Jeremy Dixon at Inner Speed and Power, was another south-west athlete who enjoyed success at Terang.
Carter placed third in the under 14s 120 metre mixed final and third in the under 16s 120m mixed final.
"It was pretty good, a tough head wind in both races," she said.
"I'm trying to focus more on the shorter distances now that Little Aths is finishing."
Carter, 13, has also competed at the Stawell Gift three times.
The Warrnambool College student also took third in the under 14s 300m mixed event at the Warrnambool Gift on Saturday.
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