On the back of a number of impressive performances, stable star Sarah Blizzard has qualified to compete on the national stage, while head coach Cooper showed no signs of slowing down by winning the 100-metre Open Gift at Sandringham earlier this month.

Cooper praised the efforts of Blizzard, who was dominant at the 2014 Victorian All Schools Track and Field Championships at Lakeside Stadium in Melbourne on November 8 and 9.

The Marian College student recorded a personal best time of 12.41s to win the Women 100 metres Under-20 event before backing that up the following day with victory in the Women 200 metres final in 26.71s.

The two wins have seen Blizzard qualify for state selection to compete in the Australian Junior Athletics Championships in Sydney during March, while she will also represent Victoria in a lead up event in February.

"That was the goal. We wanted Sarah to run in the open events at Nationals anyway, but now that she has been invited to the under 20s it is even better," Cooper said.

"She is already running so well, which is a great sign. It means all the hard work we did over winter and it was bloody hard work at that has paid off.

"I changed it from previous years to try and get her up a bit earlier and it looks to be working.

"I added an extra night in on a Friday and after training all week doing weights and plyometrics, you are pretty sore but you still need to go for a run.

“It was two degrees and almost snowing one night — absolutely freezing — we didn’t even bat an eyelid, we were training no matter what.

“She is reaping the rewards now and I think I am too.”

Cooper said he surprised himself at the Sandringham Gift while carrying a lone flag for the Ararat stable.

None of his senior runners competed at the event due to school exams, but that didn’t stop Cooper from claiming the second Sandringham sash of his career.

He won the 100-metre Open Gift off a handicap of 10.25 metres in a time of 10.93s.

“In the heat when I hit the line I thought I did it pretty easy and had a few gears left,” the veteran runner said.

“Into the semis I did the same thing and then the final felt really comfortable as well — it all came together and it was a great feeling I must say.

“I had a plan of what I wanted to do this season and winning at Sandringham certainly wasn’t part of it, but at 42 years of age I definitely take any sash I can!”

Cooper will be joined by the rest of his stable next weekend at the Warrnambool and Terang Gift meetings, which he said will be exciting given a number of new athletes will make their debut.

Blizzard said she is anticipating an increase in handicap heading into another VAL season, but is hopeful of defending some of her gift titles, with the end goal to once again qualify for the final of the Women’s Gift at Stawell.

The 18-year-old will juggle running over the summer with a move to Canberra where she will study and train during 2015.