Latest athletics news
Athletics body to review Stawell controversy
Michael Gleeson 6:07 PM The Victorian Athletics League will consider changes to handicapping rules as part of a broad review of this year's controversial Stawell Gift that saw teenager Talia Martin win despite being fined for "extraordinary improvement" in form.
Canberra coach calls for changes after Talia's controversial win
![Talia Martin with the Stawell Gift trophy.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/s/s/e/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gntsqp.png/1459305300861.jpg)
Lee Gaskin 1:35 PM Matt Beckenham says the Stawell Gift needs to change its handicapping after Talia Martin's controversial victory.
Martin's Stawell Gift win 'had hallmarks of a sting': Culbert
![Talia Martin with the Stawell Gift trophy.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/s/s/e/w/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnsqli.png/1459300753836.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Talia Martin is only 15, but the way she won the Stawell Gift – and took home the $40,000 winner's cheque – had all the hallmarks of a sting from her grandparents' era, according to long-time Stawell Gift organiser David Culbert.
Teen wins women's Gift amid controversy
![Talia Martin (pink) won the women's Stawell Gift in controversial fashion.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/s/g/y/9/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnscxr.png/1459334625787.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Ballarat teenager Talia Martin controversially wins the women's Stawell Gift but is fined $2000.
Sprinter wins Gift after thinking he'd blown his chances
![Victor: Isaac Dunmall (left) etched his name into history in winning the Stawell Gift on Monday.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/s/d/a/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnsge5.png/1459201128538.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Two years ago, Isaac Dunmall made the final of the Stawell Gift and his body let him down. His calves cramped up before the race and he ran a stinker. He thought his one big chance to win the Gift had come and gone in the tweak of a calf.
It's on for young and bold in the Stawell
![Too quick: Jack Hale missed the start but won his heat.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/r/u/z/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnruvf.png/1459078465861.jpg)
Michael Gleeson The crowd wants Jack Hale to win. The punters have long wanted Stuart Rooke to win. For either to win the Stawell Gift they are going to have to go past the other in the first semi-final on Monday just to make the final.
ATHLETICS
Breen confident of making Olympic mark
![Canberra sprint star Melissa Breen is confident she will qualify for the Olympics.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/r/m/u/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnria6.png/1458987242081.jpg)
David Polkinghorne Canberra sprint queen is using the Stawell Gift carnival to prepare for her national title defence.
Hale storms to gift heat win
![Jack Hale, pictured last year, set a cracking pace in his heat at Stawell.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/g/t/1/7/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnrirp.png/1458982499446.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Jack Hale storms to a win in his heat for the Stawell Gift.
Athletics
Wells supports 'hard-line stance' for drug cheats
![Solid run: Lauren Wells.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/5/n/g/o/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnqw72.png/1458898806130.jpg)
Jon Tuxworth Canberra hurdler Lauren Wells believes bans of up to four years for drug cheats isn't a big enough deterrent.
Athletics
Tallent says Russian athletes competing at the Rio Olympics would be a 'disgrace'
![Australia's newest gold medallist Jared Tallent says it would be a "disgrace" if the Russians are allowed to compete at Rio.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/i/q/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnr6ah.png/1458886735685.jpg)
David Polkinghorne Australian race walker Jared Tallent hopes to have his gold medal ceremony in Australia.
Tallent finally gets Olympic gold
![Justice at last: Walker Jared Tallent.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/w/i/q/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnqsby.png/1458875495547.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Australia has a new Olympic gold medalist. Three-and-a-half years after being beaten over the line by a Russian drug cheat walker, Jared Tallent is now the Olympic champion.
Watt still in frame for Olympic trials
![Mitchell Watt has battled major Achilles tendon injuries for several years.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/q/p/9/a/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnqp7t.png/1458804824351.jpg)
Australian head coach Craig Hilliard remains hopeful that 2012 Olympic long jump silver medallist Mitchell Watt will be fit to contest the upcoming Rio Games trials.
Melbourne Cup winner brings Kenyans to Stawell
![Melbourne Cup-winning owner Sandy McGregor.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/p/x/m/i/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnpovp.png/1458721017368.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Last year's Melbourne Cup winning owner Sandy McGregor has brought two talented Kenyan runners to Australia to race in the mile at the Stawell Gift.
Bolt to make Rio his last Olympics
![His last bow: Usain Bolt wants to end his Olympic appearances with another three golds.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/j/5/y/1/5/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnovbh.png/1458641313363.jpg)
World record holder Usain Bolt has confirmed the Rio Olympics will be his last.
Four Russian track-and-field athletes test positive for meldonium
![Maria Sharapova of Russia serves to compatriot Ekaterina Makarova during their women's singles semi-final match at the ...](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/i/f/n/k/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnnr8c.png/1458554773084.jpg)
Jack Stubbs Four Russian track-and-field athletes have tested positive for the banned drug meldonium, Russia's athletics chief said on Monday, a disclosure that further undermines Moscow's efforts to overturn a doping ban in time for the Olympic Games.
IAAF promises to fight Nestle ending agreement to save kids programme
![Losing sponsors: IAAF president Sebastian Coe has said he will challenge Nestle on their termination of kids athletics ...](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/n/3/p/q/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnn3ai.png/1458523436638.jpg)
Gene Cherry The IAAF will not let Nestle walk away from an agreement that benefits millions of young people and trainers without a fight, athletics chief Sebastian Coe has said.
Fab's fabulous leap to silver
![Marquis Dendy, centre, celebrates with China's Huang Changzhou and Australia's Fabrice Lapierre.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/n/0/1/l/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnmysc.png/1458525581965.jpg)
Michael Gleeson Fabrice Lapierre has added an indoor silver world champions medal to the outdoor one he won last year in Beijing setting, the Australian up to hopefully go one better in Rio.
Pole-vault star escapes serious injury
![Pain: Alana Boyd is wheeled from the arena in tears](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/m/1/g/3/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnm1g4.png/1458280152448.jpg)
John Salvado Australian pole vault star Alana Boyd has escaped serious injury despite being carried from the arena in a wheelchair after damaging her ankle in the warm-up at the world indoor athletics championships.
Study finds right-leg amputees have a Paralympic edge
![New research finds a difference in times between right-leg and left-leg amputees.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/l/0/u/6/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnku56.png/1458165248336.jpg)
Larissa Nicholson Paralympic sprinters who are missing their right leg have an edge over those who compete without a left limb, new research has found.
Champion runner tests positive to meldonium
![Ukrainian runner Nataliya Lupu.](/web/20160330212737im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/k/2/7/f/image.related.thumbnail.90x60.gnjyv4.png/1458083718023.jpg)
The Ukraine's former European indoor 800m champion Nataliya Lupu will miss this week's world indoor championships after she tested positive for meldonium.