Wangaratta's Bryce Willoughby in action during the woodchopping on Saturday.

Albury runner Mitch Palmer in action during the Wangaratta Sports Carnival.

HAYDEN Wyllie has become the first Albury runner since Robert Ballard in 2009 to take out the $8000 Wangaratta Gift.

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Poppy Lang strides out to win the under-14 120m final at Norm Minns Oval.

Starting off nine metres, Wyllie put a sluggish semi-final performance behind him to win the biggest race of his career in 12.37 seconds.

“It’s awesome,” Wyliie, 22, said.

WINNING TOUCH: Hayden Wyllie saved his best run for the final of the Wangaratta Gift on Saturday. Pictures: JAMES WILTSHIRE

“I’m stoked.

“I ran my heat pretty well, but then the storm came and we were waiting around for a couple of hours and I think some lactic acid built up in my legs.

Martine Beer was too strong for her rivals in the 800m final.

“I only just managed to get through.

“Thankfully I put it all together in the final.”

The former Albury Thunder junior’s victory completed a dream night for the Adrian Fury stable with Mitch Palmer taking out the 70-metre sprint.

Wyllie, who won the 70m at St Albans last week, was a promising runner at school and has only seriously returned to the sport in the past 12 months.

“He’s been pretty good all year,” Fury said.

“It was a good win.

“It was a hotly-contested final with a couple of young blokes trying to get a lift for Stawell.

“He only just got through the semi-final as he was a bit nervous and twitchy on the blocks.”

While Melbourne runners have dominated the gift in recent years, the Border and North-East has a good strike rate in the race.

Ballard (2009 and 1989), Wangaratta’s Jason Boulton (2006 and 1997), Albury’s Everton Evelyn (2002) and Wangaratta’s Wally Pasquali (1995) are the most recent winners from the region.

I ran my heat pretty well, but then the storm came and we were waiting around for a couple of hours and I think some lactic acid built up in my legs
- Hayden Wyllie

Wyllie pocketed $4000 for his victory.

Wyllie won his first race in a 90-metre event at Burnie several years ago and has been a consistent performer over the past six months.

Palmer has also posted some impressive results.

The former Lavington footballer took out Saturday night’s 70-metre final at Norm Minns Oval and finished third in the 400m.

Wangaratta soccer star Adam Burchell took out the 400m in convincing fashion.

“I was very happy with it,” Burchell said.

“When I won at Rye it was unexpected and it was no secret that I wanted to win at Wangaratta.

“It’s not about the prizemoney, it’s about the sash.

“We have put in a lot of effort and it’s great to get the reward.”

Pasquali said Burchell, who scored 51 goals in AWFA last year, deserved the win.

“It was fantastic to see,” Pasquali said.