Shanks set for track title defence

Feb 11th, 10. World champion Alison Shanks believes she won't have things all her own way in the RaboPlus National Track Championships in Invercargill starting today.

The World Champion in action in Beijing ©Champion System

The three-day championship are the final selection event for the World Championships as well as a key test for Commonwealth Games selection.

Shanks said the burgeoning women's track programme means there is hot competition this weekend chasing places in the team for the World Championships.

"There's so much competition happening within the squad now. There are only four places for the worlds so it's very competitive," Shanks said.

"It can only help everyone go faster with the competition."

"We are now into final track preparation. The next six weeks will be a lot of time going around in circles on the boards here in Invercargill."

She is in stronger shape this year, but is unsure what she will produce at the championships.

"My strengths are in different areas this year. I've got a really good endurance base and the next six weeks will be about pure strength and top end work."

"We are basically training through the championships and a lot will depend on the track conditions on the day. From Beijing we know where my form was at but since then it's been back into hard training. Anything could happen on Friday."

Shanks will try some different events including the team sprint which is on the programme for the first time for women this year.

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