Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy knocked out in Stawell Gift semi-finals as rain drama strikes

Adelaide schoolteacher John Evans has won the Stawell Gift after being the man to conquer Gout Gout in the semi-finals, with Aussie sprint sensation Lachlan Kennedy also knocked out before the final.

Kennedy (0.25m) was the first to fall in the semi-finals when he was unable to haul in the fittingly named 17-year-old Dash Muir (7.75m) as light rain began to hit Central Park on Monday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy upstaged in Stawell Gift semi-finals.

The heavens suddenly opened before the last two semi-finals and after a lengthy delay Gout (1m) took off but was beaten — with a huge smile on his face.

Only the six semi-final winners progressed to the final of the famous 120m race while the handicaps remained set throughout the weekend.

Evans was the fastest in the heats and, locked into his generous 9.75m starting position, went even quicker, rising to the challenge of facing Gout with victory in 12.104 seconds.

Evans kept up that form to win the final in 11.944 seconds and claim the $40,000 prize.

“That was the race of his life when he needed it most,” David Culbert said on Channel 7.

In the semi-finals, the beaten Gout kept running and immediately began high-fiving fans — “like the champion that he is,” said Bruce McAvaney — while the plaudits went to the schoolteacher Evans.

“It’s been a pretty stressful couple of days,” Evans told Channel 7 ahead of his shot at the final.

“My girlfriend will tell you it’s been all nerves, but that’s what the Stawell Gift is about.

“But a fantastic opportunity. Someone like myself will never get the chance to race against the likes of Gout Gout and Lachlan Kennedy, all these top stars.

“You look at the footage, I look across and I can see him like ‘gee whiz’. He had me scared for a second. I could hear all the crowd hyping up, the commentators.”

Gout will not go home empty-handed, with the teenager reportedly pocketing a $50,000 appearance fee from a local businessman.

Earlier, Muir won the first semi-final just 0.058 seconds ahead of Kennedy and knew he was going to be pushed all the way.

“I just had to run my own race. They’re all coming from the back, so just run,” Muir told Channel 7.

Jasper Thomas (6.50m) comfortably won the second semi-final.

Defending Stawell Gift champion Jack Lacy (6m) went down in a thrilling third semi-final with just four tenths between first and last.

Mitchell O’Neill (4.75m) overcame Jared Glover (7.25m) and Hugh Sharman (7.50m) with backmarker Michael Hanna (2.75m) recovering to third.

In the fourth semi, Jack Hale (2.25m) bounced back from a disappointing heat but Patrick Martin (8.50m) dipped perfectly to reach the final.

Heavy rain fell and weather-related delays ratcheted up the tension before the fifth semi-final won by New Zealand’s Joshua Lotsu (5.50m).

Later, Kennedy and Gout went head-to-head in the mixed backmarkers invitational, finishing fourth and seventh respectively with Ryan Tarrant overhauling Chloe Mannix-Power for the win.

“I’ve had a great time, the crowd is sick. It’s been nuts,” Kennedy said.

“If the crowd’s going to be like this I might have to (come back next year).”

Gout also thanked the crowd and went straight back to signing autographs for young fans.