BELLA Pasquali will be setting off to defend her crown as Wangaratta’s first reigning champion of Australian running’s most coveted prize.

The 142nd running of the Stawell Gift will be the epicentre of Australian athletics this Easter weekend with nearly 900 runners making their way to the edge of the Grampians.

Since her win last year, Bella’s mark has been pulled back from 7.5m to 2.5m, which will be third furthest mark from the finish line of the 120 registered runners vying for the $40,000 prize in the women’s gift.

The 17-year-old said while her chances are admittedly tough, she will still look to put on a show at a place which holds a special significance to her.

“It’s definitely been more challenging being at the back, but it’s almost a bit of a privilege as well,” she said.

“I’m hoping I can make a semi and be about middle of the field, but you never really know at Stawell because there’s a lot more competitors from interstate, so it’s a lot different to your week in week out competition.”

Bella’s win last year have opened up a raft of opportunities, from appearing on Channel 7's Sunrise to the construction of her own sign at her home Appin Street Athletics Complex.

“It’s definitely gotten my name out there a lot more, which has been good when it comes to certain types of things,” Bella said.

“But to be honest not much has changed, I’m still training all of the time and competing as much as I can.”

With a greater handicap in the short-distance, Bella’s focus this season has been the 400m, where she has shown strong form in recent meets including a state championship winning run earlier in the month.

Bella will be running the 400m off a favourable 11m this weekend, which she said would hopefully be a good barometer for her national championship run in Queensland coming up, where she hopes to qualify for the World Junior Championships.

“I think I only had five days rest between Stawell and nationals last year, so it’ll be good to have a couple of extra days break,” she said.

“Most people don’t like racing before big competitions but I don’t mind it, I feel like it’s good and I would never miss Stawell.”

The starting gun will fire off with the heats on Saturday before reaching its conclusion on Easter Monday.

Bella will take part in a ceremony on the gift’s eve on Good Friday, where an official unveiling of her commemorative plaque on Stawell’s main street will take place along with men’s winner Ryan Tarrant.

You can tune in to the action at Stawell on Seven and 7plus from 9:25am on Easter Saturday.