Two years ago the admirably progressive move was made to pay the winner of the women's gift the same amount as the men at the Stawell Gift. Since then no woman has won the gift.

After schoolgirls won the last two women's Stawell Gifts, a betting plunge on Saturday saw a 16-year-old girl backed into outright favourite for this year ahead of the heats.

It's almost as if every time Brendan Matthews feels fit and ready to go in the lead up to the Stawell Gift, something goes wrong.

Canberra sprinter Sarah Blizzard chases Stawell Gift title for run of finals

• COMMENT

Coates clash with John Wylie is not news. What is extraordinary is Coates' account of it, self-reporting his aggressive posturing, his snarls and a foul-mouthed flourish.

Melissa Breen and Lauren Wells will lead a Canberra contingent at the prestigious Stawell Gift.

Jemima Sumgong, who last year became the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic gold in the marathon, has tested positive for the banned blood-booster EPO in an out- of-competition test carried out by the IAAF, the sport's governing body said on Thursday (Friday AEST).

The tears came thick and fast when Sally Pearson realised she'd lifted herself back in to world championships contention.

Canberra sprinter Melissa Breen finished with silver despite being the fastest Australian in the women's 100m final.

It was a case of all or nothing when Queanbeyan's Andrea Thompson took her place on the starting line in the final event.

Sally Pearson is determined to compete in next year's Commonwealth Games and hasn't ruled out a tilt at the 2020 Olympics.

A rising Canberra star will take on the seniors at the national championships after claiming junior gold in Sydney.

Jordan Shelley has no regrets after leaving the Parramatta Eels in pursuit of an Olympic dream.

Thirty hurdles stand between Wells and a 10th national title, which would book her ticket to the world championships.

When John Coates joined the Australian Olympic Committee in 1981, Malcolm Fraser was the Prime Minister and the country's biggest mystery was who, or what, killed baby Azaria Chamberlain.

Teenager Riley Davis became a national sensation after running against Usain Bolt, now it's back to school and exams.

Olympian Michelle Jenneke returned to form in Canberra but just missed the world championships qualifier.

Canberra sprinter Lauren Wells has all but booked her ticket to London for the athletics world championships.

She starred at the Rio Olympic Games and in Nitro Athletics and is one of the most exciting young stars in a sport on the rise in Australia.