Sport
6 January, 2026
Callinan’s six-year wait ends with 200 m win
For the first time in nearly six years, Ballarat-based athlete Connor Callinan stood on the top step of a Victorian Athletic League podium with a memorable win in the 200 m open final at the 2026 Highland Gathering.
If Callinan ever dreamed of breaking his wait for a long-deserved victory, he probably wouldn’t have imagined it happening in a 200 m event.
Callinan has the pedigree of being an extremely consistent runner between the 400 m and 800 m ranges, with a specialty in the rather unique 550 m event. His best result came at the 2024 Stawell Gift in the 550 m, where he finished second.
In saying that, a 200 m race at Princes Park has always gelled with Callinan, who finished third in this event last year behind winner Declan Berne and elite sprinter Cooper Sherman.
After finishing ninth in the 800 m open final earlier in the gathering, Callinan clearly had a point to prove, winning the sixth heat of the 200 m open by over two tenths of a second.
Following a five-minute delay to the start, nerves began to brew for all finalists after two consecutive false starts, with Tim Rosen pushed back a metre on the second break.
When the final did eventually get underway, Callinan, starting in lane four with a mark of 22 m, passed Matt Standfield and Rosen at the bend before burning past Noddy Angelakos late to take the sash with a time of 21.577.
With his last victory coming in the Daylesford 400 m men’s final on January 5, 2020, Callinan said he was delighted to get back in the winner’s column.
“It’s a lot, I don’t have the results that a lot of people do have, last time I won a race was six years ago, almost to the day, I’ve been running here since I started sprinting, so I really love getting here on New Year’s Day and competing,” he said.
“The 200 m isn’t my distance usually, but you have just got to take the opportunities when they come, so you give it your all and there’s not much else you can do, whatever happens happens.
“I’ve never been held that long at the start, but you have just got to recompose yourself every time as you’re getting colder and colder, just hoping that your legs are still going to work when the gun goes off for real.”
Despite not being his forte, Callinan said he loves challenging himself in the 200 m, where the only objective is speed.
“The 200 m is a distance where you don’t have to think about it too much, especially when you are all in lanes,” he said.
“The 400 m and 800 m, you have to strategise as to when you pick your moment and where you position yourself on the bend.
“As I said, I don’t do these too often, and it’s sort of refreshing just to walk up to the blocks and just go as fast as you can.”