Sarah Blizzard is hoping it will be fourth time lucky when she returns to her Victorian roots in a bid to win the richest running race in Australia.
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The Canberra-based sprinter will launch another Stawell Gift campaign on Saturday and she is chasing her fourth consecutive spot in the final on Easter Monday.
The only problem is the 21-year-old's handicap has been cut by seven metres since 2014 and she has to fight Australia's best for the $40,000 winner's cheque.
Blizzard moved to the capital two years ago to study at the University of Canberra and has joined the Matt Beckenham athlete stable.
Her speed and power has improved, but even she concedes backing up for another appearance in the final after being drawn back to the field.
"Making the finals for a fourth time would be incredible,, but I don't know if it's possible," Blizzard said.
"I was blown away with two years in a row so to make it four would be an awesome achievement.
"It's been a pretty big jump in the handicap. I could have been a lot further back so I've got to assess how I'm feeling when I get down there.
"Of course winning crosses your mind and you have to be running well to know that you've got a chance to win.
"But it comes down to how everyone else goes and I won't find out until I compete in the heats."
Blizzard had a handicap of 12.5 metres four years ago but it has steadily been cut so that she will start off 5.5 metres this year.
Training partner, two-time Olympian Melissa Breen, will be the back marker off 0.25 metres.
The prestigious race has prize money parity for men and women, with a total pool of $60,000 and the winner walking away with a massive $40,000.
But Australia's most famous gift race has extra meaning for Blizzard, who grew up just 30 kilometres down the road in Ararat.
"For me, it means a lot more than the prize money," Blizzard said.
"Having the $40,000 up for grabs is awesome and it does mean a lot that it's equal prize money as well.
"But this is my seventh time at the Stawell Gift ... it's pretty big and it's almost a hometown gift so all of my family come.
"It would be awesome and mean a lot to win it ... the $40,000 is just the bonus."
Blizzard is part of a 12 athletes coached by Beckenham who will compete at Stawell this weekend.
She will also compete in the 70 metre race and still harbours an ambition to compete for Australia at major international meets.
Blizzard made the 100 metre semi-finals at the national championships in Sydney two weeks ago and will target a spot on the Australian University Games team later this year.
"It's about getting my time down at the moment and a good start would be the world uni games," Blizzard said.
"I've still got this year and a few more left at uni so if that pathway works out it could be a good start. Representing Australia would be awesome and is the big dream."
