Kiwis are sprinting to success

Sam Webster sprinting to victory ©Envious Photography-BikeNZ

Nov 25th, 11. Kiwi riders won all of the men's sprint events at the Oceania Track Championships this week, and set new national records in the sprint, team sprint and 1000m time trial in the process.

The results are a huge deal given how new a sprint cycling programme is in New Zealand and given Australia's traditional dominance in the discipline.

"Two years ago almost to the day we put in place some pretty lofty goals for this sprint programme. In terms of timing we are on track and in terms of performance we are way ahead of it," said BikeNZ national sprint coach Justin Grace.

"Everyone has improved this week. We've won every event and we have broken records. I am not getting too carried away yet because we have to compare ourselves against the best in the world in competition.

"But I am pleased with how we are progressing. More than that our women's programme is virtually tracking like the men did two years ago and we have other riders developing as well. It's quite exciting."

On the final day of racing yesterday, 21 year old Aucklander Sam Webster capped off the championships with a breakthrough victory in the men's sprint, beating off the challenge from Commonwealth Games kilo champion Scott Sunderland.

After Oceania keirin and time trial champion Simon Van Velthooven lowered the national record in sprint qualifying this morning to 10.217, Webster produced a world class 10.106 in the final ride to top qualifiers

He progressed unscathed through the elimination rounds and had too much speed for Sunderland in the finals.

"Happy does not go anywhere near far enough for that," a delighted Webster said. "Ecstatic, over-the-moon, use any adjective you want. It's something I've wanted for a long time. It's great to be able to bring the whole package to race day.

"I've earned an automatic start at the World Championships and it's a big swag of Olympic points towards our sprint tally. It's been a great week for us. We've won every sprint event which has done our Olympic points a real boost and our confidence heading to Cali World Cup tomorrow."

Other sprint succcess

Southland based sprinter Natasha Hansen produced the sizzle in the women's sprint qualifying with a sensational 11.366 which lowered the national record as well as the allcomers record for the track.

Earlier world junior championship medallist Stephanie McKenzie (Auckland) had broken the old mark with a 11.616 effort.

The two Kiwis progressed solidly through the elimination rounds but found the more experienced Australians more than a handful.

McKenzie lost in a decided third ride against Cassandra Kell for third place, and Hansen lost to Stephanie Morton in two straight rides in the final, after she was relegated in the second ride.

Earlier, Daniel Ellison from Nelson took out the final of the under-19 men's keirin final, just holding out Australia's Tirian McManus.

Oceania Day 3 results - Sprint results

Men’s sprint

• Qualifying: Sam Webster (NZL) 10.106, 1 (NZ Record); Scott Sunderland (AUS) 10.164, 2; Andrew Taylor (AUS) 10.181, 3; Simon van Velthooven (NZL) 10.217, 4; Peter Lewis (AUS) 10.227, 5; Eddie Dawkins (NZL) 10.232, 6; Ethan Mitchell (NZL) 10.287, 7; Jason Niblett (AUS) 10.323, 8; Dan Ellis (AUS) 10.337, 9; Mitchell Bullen (AUS) 10.420, 10; James Glasspool (AUS) 10.494, 11; Matt Archibald (NZL) 10.500, 12.
• Eighth final: Webster bt Archibald, Sunderland bt Glasspool, Bullen bt Taylor, Ellis bt Van Velthooven, Lewis bt Niblett, Dawkins bt Mitchell.
• Repechage: Archibald 1, Van Velthooven 2, Mitchell 3; Glasspool 1, Taylor 2, Niblett 3.  
• Quarterfinals: Webster bt Glasspool 2-0, Sunderland bt Archibald 2-0, Bullen bt Dawkins 2-1. Lewis bt Ellis 2-1. Semifinal: Webster bt Lewis 2-0, Sunderland bt Bullen 2-1.
• Third-fourth: Bullen bt Lewis 2-0. 
• Final: Webster bt Sunderland 2-0.  

Under-19 Keirin final: Daniel Ellison (NZL) 1, Tirian McManus (AUS) 2, Chad Elliston (Auckland) 3.  

Women Sprint

• Qualifying: Natasha Hansen (NZL) 11.366, 1 (NZ Record); Stephanie Morton (AUS) 11.415, 2; Stephanie Mckenzie (NZL) 11.616, 3; Katie Schofield (NZL) 11.790, 4; Cassandra Kell (AUS) 11.897, 5; Rikki Belder (AUS) 12.203, 7; Maddison Law (AUS) 12.356, 11; Vanessa Quinn (NZL) 12.537, 8.
• Quarterfinal: Hansen bt Quinn 2-0, Morton bt Law 2-0, Mckenzie bt Beldeer 2-0, Kell bt Schofield 2-0. 
• Semifinal: Hansen bt Kell 2-0, Morton bt McKenzie 2-0.
• Third-fourth: Kell bt McKenzie 2-1.
• Final: Morton bt Hansen 2-0.