Aaron Leferink takes out the 2020 men's Burnie Gift

The Victorian 19-year-old, a star in his junior days which brought with it a high level of expectation, ended his year in the best possible way on Thursday with victory in the men's Burnie Gift.

Thursday's success came after an injury hit 2019.

"[I had] hamstrings and other pressure and expectations on myself [previously] and sometimes that got me down a lot, so to be here with no expectation and say I am going to do the best that I can it was just amazing,'' he said.

Leferink, [ 5.5m], won in a time of 12.29, sneaking home ahead of Jordan Maynard and Ryan Cooper, with Rosebery Gift winner Ross Lovell in fourth.

It seems that the Burnie Carnival has also won a new fan in Leferink.

"I haven't won anything of this calibre and it is just amazing to be in Tasmania and I can't really explain it as I am so overwhelmed right now,'' he said.

"I didn't think I would be here six months ago and this is awesome."

He won his heat in 12.56 and his semi-final in 12.46.

The men's gift also had a hint of drama with Tasmanian sprint sensation Jack Hale pulling out of the final due to injury.

Hale, who was running off scratch, had won his heat in 12.54 and then was second in his semi-final in 12.52.

The other big name in the field, Olympian Alex Hartmann, failed to get past the heats, but did have a reason to smile after winning the invitational 120m.