Healthways Act Belong Commit Mullewa Gift makes successful return with last year’s runner-up claiming victory

Tony Niyongabo won the Healthways Act Belong Commit Mullewa Gift on Saturday with a great run in warm conditions. Niyongabo came second last year. “That wasn’t a spur, I was surprised last year to finish second but my approach to every race is to try and win,” Niyongabo said. Niyongabo, coming off an 11m start, exploded from the blocks and ran beautifully throughout. With 25m to go, he had Yuna’s Ella Batten, running off 30m, in his sights and seemed to have control, but said it wasn’t that easy. Niyongabo said he hoped the win would boost his career. “She (Batten) was running very well but dipped a bit early and I had (defending champion) Josh (Hook) coming up very fast on the other side — I just told myself to stay composed and hold my form,” he said. “I’m 19 and hope I haven’t peaked as I think I can sprint faster with time and training.” Batten was a little unlucky, usually there’s a headwind at Mullewa which stymies front-markers such as Batten but for most of the day there was a tailwind which would have suited her. Unfortunately for Batten, just minutes before the race the wind changed direction and she had to slog into it. She still had a memorable day, her win in the novice handicap was impressive finishing in 13.11s easing down. She is only 16 and her improvement since last year was apparent. “I’m so much stronger now and bigger, I’ve put some meat on,” Batten said. “Heptathlon is my discipline but I need to work on my speed to develop as I hope to, a lot more speed.” Tom Leseberg won the 70m handicap which he dominated with the fastest qualifying time and a powerful run in the final. The Matt Barber Backmarkers Handicap was won by Bryce Teo while Erin Leseberg was well organised in her Geraldton Bendigo Bank 550m Handicap win. RESULTS SUMMARY Healthways Act Belong Commit Mullewa Gift: 1st Tony Niyongabo (11m) 13.15s, 2nd Josh Hook (6m) 13.23s, 3rd Ella Batten (30m) 13.26s. 70m Jim Wilson H’cap Final: 1st Tom Leseberg (8.5m) 7.48s, 2nd Bryce Teo (3.5m) 7.52s, 3rd Gnana Sunderam (7m) 7.54s. 120m Novice H’cap: 1st Ella Batten (25.25m) 13.11s, 2nd Erin Leseberg (30m) 13.3s, 3rd Tom Foulkes-Taylor (20m) 13.51s. Matt Barber 120m Backmarkers H’cap: 1st Bryce Teo (3m) 13.16, 2nd Caleb White (3.75m) 13.03s, 3rd Josh Hook (0m) 13.16s. 550m Geraldton Bendigo Bank H’cap: 1st Erin Leseberg (110m) 1m 16s, 2nd Emma Brook (130m) 1m 17.5s, 3rd Nevaeh Hill (85m) 1m 18.1s.