Trent Low's Stawell Gift dream was cut short but there will be no stopping the speedy athlete.
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The 19-year-old sprinter was invited to take on the country's best short distance runners in the oldest and richest footrace in Australia.
Held annually in Victoria, Low made the trip to compete in the 120m event.
With a handicap of six metres, Low started behind the front-runners.
By the 30m mark, he had caught up with the competition but a further 10m down the track, his dream ended.
Low strained a hamstring and was forced to withdraw partway through the race.
Despite missing out on going further in the event, Low has remained upbeat and his dad Mark described it as "a great experience and learning curve for Trent in the professional running as he has just turned 19."
Low has vowed to be back at the Stawell gift again in 2020 but it's not the only mega event on his radar.
"He will be training even harder to get back next year to the Gift as it has such an atmosphere and buzz about it with Australia's fastest athletes all gathered in one place," Mark said.
The 19-year-old is preparing to race at an international level after earning selection in the Regional Australia team for the Oceania Games.
The games will be in Townville from June 25 to 28 and Low will race in the 100m and 200m events.
"His focus will be rehab for his Hamstring and then training with his coach Jay Stone for the Oceania Games," Mark said.
"We would like to thank Jay Stone his coach for all his hard work and training in helping us get to Stawell and being selected for the Games."