It took stablemates nudging him on the ground, after a massive dive at the line, for the realisation to hit Procaccino that he had won Australia's richest 400-metre running race.

Procaccino had broken in a semi-final false start and was pulled two metres but continued to fight hard, right to when he was pushed to the outside in the final straight and battling for line honours with a dive to win Bendigo's $6000 Black Opal on Sunday night.

This was a gutsy win for the Ballarat teenager, who clawed down the 38m limit marker off his 14-metre start and clocked a winning time of 45.98 seconds.

"I just had to rely on my training Pete (coach O'Dwyer) had given to me through the years to finish strong," Procaccino said.

"I was a bit unsure I'd won...Once I crossed the line, nearly everything seemed a blur.

"I was lying on the ground - it took me awhile to recover - but all my teammates ran over nudging me a little to get me up and congratulate me."

Fitting, training partner Sam Baird was first to reach Procaccino and smother him in a congratulatory hug.

Baird won the Opal two years ago as a 17-year-old. The victory launched an exciting athletics career that propelled Baird to the national stage.

Procaccino, almost 18, said Baird was an inspiration for the path he too, hoped to take specialising in 400m running.

Like Baird did last year, Procaccino must juggle athletics with his year 12 studies at Ballarat Grammar - he hit the books hard on Monday to prepare for upcoming maths and accounting assessments - but he has watched Baird start an exciting athletics comeback this summer after completing his VCE.

He hoped to continue following Baird's footsteps.

Coach Peter O'Dwyer said Procaccino's classy run puts him among the best 400m runners for his age and not too far off Baird, who reached the Black Opal semi-final from scratch.

Stawell is next. Procaccino has an intense month of training ahead and then plans to ease back a little after the iconic Easter meet.

Meanwhile, POD Squad stablemate Scott Shillito claimed his first sash with a huge run for victory in the masters' 300m final.

Cleo Anderson reached the Bendigo Women's Gift 120m final and Grace O'Dwyer reached the Bendigo women's Black Pearl 400m final in the two-day carnival.