ANDREW Robinson has become the first Tasmanian in 72 years to win the Stawell Gift, edging out hot favourite Mitchell Williams-Swain in a photo finish on Monday.

Robinson dedicated the win to coach Ray Quarrell who lost his house in January's Dunalley bushfires.

"After everything that happened I used that as personal motivation to do it for someone who I love like a second dad," the 25-year-old told OneHD after the race.

"I just really wanted to go out there this weekend and make him proud and put all that bad stuff we had happen to us this year behind us.

"I have done that in the best possible way."

Mitchell-Swains, the winner in 2011, was desperately unlucky, penalised one metre for a false start in the final before being beaten by just centimetres.

The race was robbed of extra interest when London Olympics 100m finalist Asafa Powell withdrew from the semi-finals with a hamstring problem.

The 30-year-old experienced soreness in the hamstring during Saturday's warm-up, but elected to run, finishing third in his heat running off scratch.