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But to say Storta won the money in 12.29 seconds would be vastly ignoring his training regime.

The money came from months of hard work and, as Storta put it, those brief but ``agonisingly slow'' seconds were just the final ones after a long off-season.

“I've put in a really strong off season and I really worked hard to get myself in good shape for this race,'' he said. “The money is a bonus but really it's just a good result for me to show how well I am running at the moment.''

Storta began the 120m race with a 9.75 metre start in his words, a ``helpful'' mark.

Racing against home-town favourite Patrick Elliott and world junior long jump champion Robbie Crowther, Storta admitted he had his work cut out for him.

“I've really been working on just running my own race, no matter what is going on behind me,'' he said.

“The key was just to stay focused and relaxed in the final few metres when everybody tends to catch up to you.''

After streaming from the blocks in a lightning start, Storta held on to his slender advantage for the majority of the race.

“For most of the race I was out in the open, I just remember the screaming [of the supporters] getting louder and louder,'' he recalled.

“I just went for it, but in the last five metres the other runners started coming into view.''

The narrow margin was just enough, and in a flash the final race of the Queanbeyan Gift was over.

Storta knew it from the moment he crossed the line, extending both hands into the air in celebration.

Embraced by family and friends after the race, Storta admitted he was in a daze.

“It was totally surreal, I was really lost for words,'' he said.

“I've never really won a big race like that so it was strange to have everything happen so quickly.''

Storta had competed in seven previous Queanbeyan Gifts, once claiming the runner-up position in 2004.

But after a series of disappointing years where he failed to make the final, Storta said he was relieved to have performed at the Queanbeyan race.

“[Gift racing] is something you always look forward to but you never know quite what to expect,'' he said.

“I've had a lot of fun at this race over the years and it's really surreal to have won it now.''

Matt Pilkington claimed second prize off of a 8.5 metre handicap, while Patrick Fakiye came third after running from the 4 metre marker.