The $500 Women's 100-metre handicap final was Johnson's fourth race within half an hour.

Celebrations were cut short when Johnson raced back down the straight, keeping her green jersey, for the 70-metre open handicap final.

In those 12.68 seconds, Johnson (6.25m) ended Ballarat athlete Narelle Lehmann's two year claim on the women's crown.

The sash marked the 16-year-old's first major win on the Victorian Athletic League circuit.

"It feels good _ I finally broke my novice," Johnson said.

"I don't even remember how it unfolded, I just kept momentum going."

Lehmann (8m) desperately fought to claim an historic third consecutive crown and plunged at the line third in 12.86 seconds behind Melburnian Nicole Jones.

Three-time Australian 400m hurdles champion Lauren Boden (0.75m) was a narrow fourth.

Lehmann was pleased to have put herself in a position to defend her title amid a tough field.

"I'm actually pretty happy ... my first step was to make the final," Lehmann said.

"I ran a good, solid heat.

"I thought Emma was the person to beat after the heats and I'm certainly not disappointed with that race."

Lehmann also reached the women's 400m handicap final at Cricket Willow, her third final for the weekend after finishing runner-up in the women's 70m at Maryborough on New Year's Day.

The mother-of-two's preparations have differed this summer with lots of "incidental training" in work as a personal trainer.

Lehmann thanked her clients for keeping her fit this season and her efforts this long weekend proved she was "thereabouts" on the circuit.

For Johnson, the women's 100m win amid a hectic schedule has buoyed her confidence ahead of the 100 and 200m Athletics Australia national track and field titles in March.

The Stephen Brimacombe-trained sprinter has pencilled Stawell in her preparations.

She hoped to emulate her training partner Adrian Mott, winner of the prestigious Gift in 2006.