Big guns Lachlan Kennedy and Gout Gout have both been eliminated in the semi-finals of the Stawell Gift. Intermittent rain and gusty winds only increased the degree of difficulty for the two backmarkers, with just the six semi-final winners advancing to the final later on Monday afternoon. Kennedy (0.25m) was a close second in the first semi won by highly rated Melbourne 17-year-old Dash Muir in 12.18 seconds. Kennedy stopped the clock at 12.24. Gout (1m) was also second in his semi-final. The Australian 200m record-holder flashed home in 12.34 but could not reel in frontmarker and title favourite John Evans, who clocked the fastest semi-final time of 12.10 off a generous handicap of 9.75m. The other semi-final winners were Jasper Thomas, Mitchell O'Neill, Patrick Martin and Joshua Lotsu. Scratch-marker and Paris Olympics 100m semi-finalist Bree Rizzo charged into the women's Gift final after winning her semi in 13.81. The winners of both 120m handicap events will pocket $40,000.