Kiesanowski gains more silverware

Oct 8th, 10.  After another show of great Kiwi teamwork, Jo Kiesanowski won the silver medal in the scratch race at the Commonwealth Games last night.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jo Kiesanowski ©RoadCycling.co.nz

In the latter stages of the race, Buchanan, the NZ Champion in this discipline, did what she loves to do - she jumped off the front.  

The move forced the rest of the field to chase like mad, which is exactly what Australian Megan Dunn did.  

For a while it looked like Buchanan might hang on for the win, but Dunn had her in her sights and tore over the top of her in the final lap.

Dunn held off to win the gold medal while Kiesanowski won the bunch sprint for silver.  

Understandably after her huge effort, Buchanan faded in the final metres but still managed to hold on for 7th place.  The 3rd Kiwi in the race, Gemma Dudley finished in 15th place. Englishwoman Anna Blyth won the bronze medal.

As they did in the points race a few days earlier, the Kiwi team were consistently at the front of the race as they marked the powerful Canadian and Australian riders.  

In the points race Lauren Ellis was the teammate with the medal around her neck at the end of the race, today was Kiesanowski's turn.

Kiesanowski decided a few seasons ago she wanted to have another nudge at track cycling success.  After ten years as a road race professional, she set her sights on these Commonwealth Games and told the New Zealand selectors she wanted to be in contention for the track squad.

After delivering good performances and earning her place in the team against a growing number of Kiwi women track riders, Kiesanowski delivered again - her focus paid off.