MELBOURNE’S Henry Laussen has substantially upgraded his efforts in the footraces at the Rheola Charity Carnival.
For the past two years, Laussen has finished second in the junior 70m sprint at the event.
This year, he went more than one better, taking out the 120m Rheola Sprint Gift, collecting $300 and the Wiss Woolbrokers Group Trophy.
The 18-year-old defeated Jake Meyer from Dunolly and Wedderburn veteran Brad Weston.
Laussen is also a talented hockey player who last year was selected in the Hockey Australia Under 18 National Futures squad.
The running competition attracted a big crowd all day, with spectators lining the track and being shooed away from the run-off area after the finishing line.
The day began with boys’ and girls’ races, for age groups from five to 12 years, followed by the sprint handicap for 12- to 16-year-olds. 
This event attracted an interesting variety of entrants, from boys sprinting awkwardly in long pants and heavy boots to those clad in more traditional running shorts and shoes.
The winner of the 70-metre sprint was Jack Metherall from Ryder Pearce and Max Harper.