ATHLETES from all over the country are expected to take to the track on Saturday for the running of the second annual Blacktown City Christmas Gift - National Professional Athletic Carnival.
The event, to be held at Blacktown Olympic Park at Rooty Hill, will have a prize pool of $30,000.
Races are conducted under a handicap system to give an even chance of winning making the events more exciting and competitive.
As well as the men's and women's gift races, there will be a number of other prize events, including the Fairfax sponsored Athlete With Disability Paralympic Challenge.
This race will start at 5.20pm.
The carnival is open to men, women, juniors, seniors, veterans and wheelchair athletes.
The gift is a joint initiative of Blacktown Olympic Park and the NSW Athletic League.
The park's athletics precinct has an all-weather synthetic track and spectator grandstand with amenities.
Races range in distance from 70m and 100m sprints through to 300m and 1km.
Last year's winner of the men's 110m gift main race was Jacob Groth in a time of 11.38secs. He was followed by Keith Sheehy, who finished 11.52secs, and John Jakeman, who finished 11.53secs.
Laura Whaler won the women's 110m gift in a time of 13.17secs.
She was followed by Mikke Foley, who finished in 13.20secs, and Michelle Soper, who finished in 13.28secs.
This year's heats will start from 9.30am, followed by semi-finals, and finals from 3.30pm. The gift finals will be held at 5.40pm.
Blacktown Olympic Park is located of Eastern Road at Rooty Hill. Spectators are welcome.