CYCLING

NZ Track Cycling Championships - Day 1

By Sports Media NZ

Auckland sprinter Zac Williams caused a disturbance in the force with an outstanding win over Olympic teammate Eddie Dawkins on the opening night of the Vantage Windows and Doors National Track Championships in Invercargill.

Dawkins is a proud Southlander and it takes a special effort to upstage him on his home track in the big races, but that’s exactly what Williams did in the final of the elite men’s 1000m time trial.

“The goal this week was to try and win this and then the team sprint later in the week, so that’s one done,” said Williams, who finished second to Simon van Velthooven at last year’s nationals.

“It’s a pretty cool feeling, especially against someone like Dawk, who medalled at junior worlds and for a while was the best rider (in this event) in the country.”

Young Palmerston North prospect Jordan Castle was third behind the two Olympic representatives.

Following on from her win in the time trial at the national road championships, Jaime Nielsen claimed the women’s 3000m individual pursuit title from Waikato/Bay of Plenty teammate Rushlee Buchanan, with Southland’s Kirstie James heading off Lauren Ellis (Mid-South Canterbury) for the bronze medal to prevent a clean sweep of Rio Olympians.

Nielsen was the fastest qualifier during the morning session, breaking the New Zealand championship record set in 2010 by two-time world champion Alison Shanks, backing up well to hold off a fast-finishing Buchanan in the final.

“I’ve finally broken some boundaries for myself, so it’s exciting to keep pushing those boundaries,” said Nielsen. “We are doing some really massive training blocks and I’m working with a really good coach. We are all on the same page and we are making those gains in training and transferring them to the track.”

Waimate’s Dylan Kennett continued his push for selection for the world championships with victory in the men’s 4000m individual pursuit, holding off local rider Nick Kergozou in the gold medal ride, with Hugo Jones (Canterbury) taking bronze from Tom Sexton (Southland).

After several years frustrated by niggling injuries, Kennett believes he is starting to reach a level of physical maturity which bodes well for the future.
 

“I’ve been going really well in training, basically focussing on the road nationals and then the IP at the track nationals because worlds are so far away. I feel there are still a few things I can tweak to make myself go faster.

“Guys like Jesse Sergent and Wes Gough have set the benchmark over the years, and then (Australians) Jack Bobridge and Michael Hepburn - it’s my goal to be as quick as them, if not quicker so I’ve set the bar pretty high.”

Rio Olympian Natasha Hansen, who has just completed her final exams to qualify as an air traffic controller, edged out Southland teammate Emma Cumming to claim the women’s 500m time trial title, with Tess Young (Waikato/Bay of Plenty) in bronze.

London Olympic BMX medallist Sarah Walker (Waikato/Bay of Plenty) continued an impressive apprenticeship on the track with fifth place.

Jackson Ogle (Waikato/Bay of Plenty) broke the New Zealand championship record for the under 19 men’s 1000m time trial in the morning and then comfortably won the final, with Canterbury’s Joshua Scott second and Thomas Garbett (West Coast North Island) third.

Nicole Shields (Southland) won an exciting under 19 women’s 7.5km scratch race from Emily Shearman and Libby Arbuckle (both West Coast North Island).

Canterbury’s Joshua Scott took out the under 19 men’s 10km scratch race from Corbin Strong (Southland) and Jared Pidcock (Canterbury).

Racing continues on Friday with the elite sprints for men and women and the under 19 men and women contesting the keirin.

Day 1 finals results:
Elite, women 3000m individual pursuit, golf medal ride: Jaime Nielsen (Waikato BOP) 3:31.544, 1; Rushlee Buchanan (Waikato BOP) 3:34.577, 2. Bronze medal ride: Kirstie James (Southland) 3:34.831, 3; Lauren Ellis (Mid South Canterbury) 3:38.532, 4.
Men, 4000m individual pursuit, gold medal ride: Dylan kennett (Waikato BOP) 4:18.517, 1; Nick Kergozou (Southland) 4:22.997, 2. Bronze medal ride: Hugo Jones (Canterbury) 4:26.628, 3; Tom Sexton (Southland) 4:28.309, 4.
Women 500m Time Trial: Natasha Hansen (Southland) 35.241, 1; Emma Cumming (Southland) 35.315, 2; Tess Young (Waikato BOP) 35.837, 3.
Men 1000m Time Trial: Zac Williams (Auckland) 1:01.817, 1; Eddie Dawkins (Southland) 1:02.102, 2; Jordan Castle (West Coast North Island) 1:02.428, 3.
Under-19:
Women 500m Time Trial: Ellesse Andrews (Waikato BOP) 35.859, 1; Shaane Fulton (Tasman) 36.272, 2; Emily Shearman (West Coast North Island) 36.648, 3.
Men 1000m time trial: Jackson Ogle (Waikato BOP) 1:03.378, 1; Josh Scott (Canterbury) 1:04.674, 2; Matthew Trenchard (Canterbury) 1:05.889, 3.
Women Scratch Race 7.5km: Nicole Shields (Southland) 1, Emily Shearman (West Coast North Island) 2, Kibby Arbuckle (West Coast North Island) 3.
Men Scratch Race, 10km: Josh Scott (Canterbury) 1, Corbin Strong (Southland) 2, Jared Pidcock (Canterbury) 3.


Details:www.elitetracknationals.nz