IT was a tough time for Wangaratta runner Bella Pasquali at the 2025 Stawell Gift over the Easter long weekend. The talented teenager and 2023 Women’s Gift champion did not progress past the semi-finals in the 120m race, and came seventh in the final of the 400m event. Pasquali entered the meet in PB form, and looked good, coming second in her 400m heat off a 1m mark with a time of 53.973 on Saturday. She was also running well in the Gift heat, winning through to the semis off 2.75m with a time of 14.066. In the 400m final on Monday, Pasquali was the backmarker, and ran the race well but was not able to catch eventual winner Sophie Stokes. Pasquali started well back in her Gift semi-final, coming off a mark of 2.75m. She was closing the gap on the pack, but with about 10m left to race, Pasquali pulled up suddenly and gingerly crossed the line last. Cameras captured Pasquali gripping her right upper leg, visibly grimacing in pain as she walked out of shot. Pasquali's mother, Anna, said scans had confirmed Bella had pulled her hamstring "quite badly" in the race. "She was meant to head to China for the world relays [World Athletics Relays Guangzhou 2025] in two weeks, so that's no longer on the cards," Anna said. "She's looking at 12 weeks, but we don't know for sure." The Women’s Gift was won by Bree Rizzo running off scratch in a time of 13.521.
