Jones (8.25m) had one of the quickest heat times – winning in 14.503 seconds.

Another Ballarat heat winner Tiana Shillito (16m) had the distinction of producing the fastest heat time over the 120 metres.

She ran 14.365 in taking out the first of seven heats.

Jones said she was really happy with her run.

She said she was aware the backmarkers would close her down early and her plan had been to go as hard as possible and hold on.

Mason Keast, also from Ballarat, impressed in winning his Ballarat Gift heat.

He was also right up with the fastest heat times off his 8.25m with 12.703.

The semi-finals and finals will be run on Sunday.

HEAT WINNERS

BALLARAT GIFT

1 – Ed Ware (Mitcham) 9m

2 – James Woodgate (Queensland) 5.75m

3 – Tim Eschebach (Queensland) 6.75m

4 – Mason Keast (Delacombe) 8.25m

5 – Conor Loughnan (Queensland) 7m

6 – Matthew Harvey (Edithvale) 10.75m

7 – Kris Kardakovski (Epping) 10.75m

8 – Bikra Singh (Coburg) 11m

9 - Mitchell Tucker (South Australia) 8m

(next fastest 23 into semi-finals)

BALLARAT WOMEN’S GIFT

1 – Tiani Shillito (Buninyong) 16m

2 – Caitlyn Nicholson (Moyston) 15.5m

3 – Stephanie Jinx (Prahran) 9.5m 

4 – Zoe Neale (Heathmont) 6.75m

5 – Loryn Savoia (Bendigo) 11.75m

6 – Jody Richards (Aintree) 12.25m

7 – Kate Jones (Durham Lead) 8.25m

(next fastest 17 into semi-finals)

SEMI-FINALS ON SUNDAY

BALLARAT GIFT

SEMI-FINAL 1

RED Matt Carter 3.25

WHITE Maki Loukeris 6m

BLUE Aidan Green 6.75m

YELLOW Nicholas Antonino 8m

GREEN Max Punchihewa 8.5m

PINK Ryan Camille 9m

BLACK Luke Mitche11 9.75m

GREY Bikra Singh 11m

SEMI-FINAL 2

RED Isaac Dunmall 35m

WHITE Parvinder Singh Bajwa 6m

BLUE Tim Escabach 6.75m

YELLOW Ronan Berne 8m

GREEN Mason Keast 8.25m

PINK Ed Ware 9m

BLACK Matt Burleigh 10m

GREY Robert Spencer 10.25m

SEMI-FINAL 3

RED Luke Houylihan 5.5m

WHITE Liam Dooley 6.25m

BLUE Daniel Sonsini 6.5m

YELLOW Paddy Turner 7m

GREEN Mitchell Tucker 8m

PINK Harrison Kerr 8m

BLACK Callum James 9m

GREY Matthew Harvey 10.75m

SEMI-FINAL 4

RED James Woodgate 5.75m

WHITE Jasper Nettlefold 6.5m

BLUE Conor Loughnan 7m

YELLOW Stuart Rooke 7.25m

GREEN Matthew Hargreaves 8.25m

PINK David Gross 9.75m

BLACK Kris Kardakovski 10.75m

GREY Mark Hignetti 13.25m

BALLARAT WOMEN’S GIFT

SEMI-FINAL 1

RED Kiara Reddingius 0.5m

WHITE Taylah Perry 5.5m

BLUE Kate Jones 8.25m

YELLOW Edwina Kidd 10m

GREEN Dani Pike 14.5m

PINK Tarryn Fisher 14.5m

SEMI-FINAL 2

RED Jessica Payne 1.75m

WHITE Blaze Demase 8m

BLUE Kirsty Stevens 10.25m

YELLOW Jody Richards 12.25m

GREEN Hannah Duyhoven 14m

PINK Jemma Clayton 15m

SEMI-FINAL 3

RED Grace O'Dwyer 4.25m

WHITE Zoe Neal 6.75m

BLUE Hayley Openshaw 9.5m

YELLOW Loryn Savoia 11.75m

GREEN Ashleigh Hamilton 15.25m

PINK Caitlyn Nicholson 15.5m

SEMI-FINAL 4

RED Liv Ryan 4.75m

WHITE Laura Downie 7.25m

BLUE Stephanie Jinks 9.5m

YELLOW Danielle Segedinski 14.25m

GREEN Megan McMahon 15.75m

PINK Tiana Shiillito 16m

OTHER heat video replays on @sportcourier Twitter account