Graf set the standard for the entire day as she won her heat to advance to the semi-final stage, she then qualified for the final with the quickest time, 10.84 seconds, to be among the favourites in the field of six.

The 25-year-old then produced a brilliant run off her handicap of 15 metres to upstage a quality field with a time of 10.73 seconds.

Graf said she surprised herself with such a good run and said it was an honour to be the first woman to win the Gift.

“I don’t know where I pulled that final run from at that time, but I’m quite happy with it,” Graf said.

“It was lovely to be the first woman, it’s always good to make a bit of history – it makes it even better.”

Graf pipped fellow female runner Stephanie Richards (16.25m) on the line and denied 2016 winner Michael Kember (5.5m) back-to-back victories - he ran fourth.

Daniel Sonsini (5.75m) rounded out the podium while Kristerfer Kardakovski finished fifth and Ballarat’s Tom Moloney came sixth in a tight finish to the 100m race.

While in the women’s vase, North Sunshine’s Megan McMahon ran her way to victory.

McMahon entered the event with great form under her belt and carried it through to hold off an impressive field in the women’s marquee event at Cricket Willow with a time of 12.43 seconds of her 14.25 metre handicap.