Leonora’s 2026 Golden Gift got underway on Saturday night with the elite mile qualifier, held under floodlights on the streets of Leonora in what looked like wet and challenging conditions. Eight finalists from the women’s and men’s competitions will advance to Sunday’s finals.
Women’s Elite Mile Qualifier
Three qualifying rounds determined the women’s finalists, with the top two from each round qualifying automatically (S) and the quickest third-place finishers receiving wildcard points (S).
Heat 1
- Erase it (S)
- Missy Hehir (S)
- Cassiana Papadoulis
- Angie Ross
- Mia Clark
- Emma Phillip
Heat 2
- Natalie base (S)
- Maddy Luscombe (S)
- Isabella Nervoort (F)
- Leah Watters
- Chloe Dartnall
- Adianka Hemming
- Ashley Fox
Heat 3
- Hannah Doyle (S)
- Quinn Bandaridge (S)
- Ava Debritz (F)
- Fiona Hadid
- Siena Hungary
- Kayla van der Linden
- Helen Mulroy
Women’s finalists: Clara Dees, Massie Hehir, Natalie Rolle, Maddy Luscombe, Hannah Doyle, Quinn Bandaraj, Isabella Niervoort (q), Ava Debritz (q)
Men’s Elite Mile Qualifier
Two rounds of qualifying determined the men’s finalists, with the top three from each round automatically qualifying (S) and the fastest fourth-place finishers receiving wildcard spots (F).
Heat 1
- Peter Paul (S)
- Luke Shaw (S)
- Kieran Thibault (S)
- Matthew Stoner
- Albert Turner
- Samuel Brennan
- Ben Patterson
- Sean Owens
Heat 2
- Juna Hanikiri (S)
- Tom Moorcroft (S)
- Max Shervington (S)
- Josh Nervoort (F)
- Liam Dardingo (F)
- Thomas Davy
- Ben O’Sullivan
Men’s finalists: Peter Ball, Luke Shaw, Kieran Tibbals, Jonah Hanekere, Tom Moorcroft, Max Shirvington, Josh Nervoort (Q), Liam Dardingo (Q)
The finals are set to deliver a top-shelf showdown. On the men’s side, Peter Paul, the Olympic finalist in the 800 metres, leads a competitive squad that includes Welsh international Tom Moorcroft and a strong Australian squad. The women’s final results look equally convincing with eight qualifiers ready to compete for Golden Gift glory.
To follow up on the final results.
