Rob Lehmann, a long-time competitor at Victorian Athletic League events, brushed aside disappointment at the Ararat Gift seven days earlier to record a breathtaking runaway win in the final of the prestigious 120-metre handicap event at Keilor Recreation Reserve on Saturday night.

Lehmann, starting off a handicap of 10.75 metres in the yellow singlet from lane four, clocked an adjusted time of 12.595 to beat defending champion Cam Dunbar (12.675) and Darren Whittaker (12.729).

Rob Lehmann recorded a breathtaking runaway win in the final of the prestigious 120-metre handicap event at Keilor Recreation Reserve on Saturday night.

Keilor Sports Club gift committee member Matthew Webster said it was never in doubt for one of the most experienced runners in the six-man final field.

‘‘He trains a number of runners in Ballarat and last week at the Ararat Gift one of his training boys, Nathan Fox, narrowly beat him on the line,’’ Webster said.

‘‘He turned the tables on the rest of the field and won convincingly [at Keilor].’’

Lehmann has enjoyed a long association with athletics.

The VAL director began his career as a long jumper where he was twice the under-age national champion.

He turned his back on the sandpit after persistent ankle problems and turned to pro running in 1988.

Lehmann’s victory at Keilor adds to a long list of honours, including victories at Bendigo, Melton, Castlemaine and last year at Sandringham.

‘‘He certainly has had a long career,’’ Webster said.

The hard-luck story on an otherwise glittering night was Matthew Mifsud. Mifsud was one of the leading contenders due to his blistering performances in the heats. He pulled up short of the line after sustaining what was thought to be a hamstring injury.

‘‘I thought he might have caused an upset,’’ Webster said.

Outside the placings were Augustine Carty-Cowling and Josh Tiu.

There was an international flavour attached to the 120-metre Billie Jo Peterson women’s final.

Melanie Purkiss (14.546), a one-time Great Britain representative at the Commonwealth Games, edged out last year’s runner-up Megan McMahon (14.554) by the barest of margins with Patricia Fox (14.642) rounding out the placings.

Webster was thrilled with the level of competition in, at times, tricky conditions. The wind died down for the late-night finals, but that was not the case for the heats.

‘‘They were running a fairly strong head wind over the course of the day,’’ he said.