Kent Claims Silver in Open Road Champs
WAIS athlete Sarah Kent rounded out a hugely successful Open Road Championships in Ballarat, Victoria on Saturday by claiming a silver medal in the Under-23 women’s road race.
For Kent it was a second podium finish after lifting bronze in the individual time trial earlier in the championships.
The road race was a tense affair with a sprint finish at the end separating eventual winner Peta Mullens (Victoria) from Kent and Tiffany Cromwell (South Australia).
Kent has proved herself to be an excellent team member in recent times after putting in a huge effort in supporting WAIS teammate Josie Tomic to a second place finish at last week’s Bay Crits series, but it was Kent herself who rose to the challenge on Saturday in a performance that surprised even her.
“This is a huge result for me, I don’t usually consider myself a road rider, so it’s pretty unbelievable,” the 18 year-old said.
WAIS head cycling Coach Darryl Benson was equally proud of Kent’s effort describing her ride as over and above expectations.
“Sarah’s ride to get second place was a fantastic result,” he said. “She really did ride above herself and had to work extremely hard for position due to the fact she was the only WA rider left and the field were using plenty of tatics.”
Kent’s result was made even more impressive given she finished eighth overall in the combined race including the women’s senior race. In tough conditions only 30 of the initial 69 riders managed to finish the 102 km course.
The men’s Under-23 road race was also raced on Saturday with South Australian young gun Jack Bobridge adding the road crown to his individual time trial success earlier in the meet.
Ben King was the best of the competing WAIS athletes finishing seventh, whilst Travis Meyer (21st) and Adam Semple (23rd) also produced solid efforts.
The Open Road Championships finished with a bang as the senior men’s race was held over 163.2km of the tough Buninyong course.
WAIS cyclist Cameron Meyer – who was celebrating his 21st birthday – put in a huge effort to finish fourth in a top quality race, which was eventually won by NSW rider Peter McDonald.
Meyer faced a similar race pattern to that of Kent with few teammates for support, he was forced in to a breakaway, a tactic that nearly paid dividends before the chase group containing the three place getters reeled him in.
“Cameron’s ride was outstanding. He had to mark a lot of moves in that race and it really was a very good ride,” Benson said.
WAIS dual Olympian rower Ben Cureton also competed at the Open Road Championships finishing a fantastic tenth in the individual time trial and placing 43rd in the road race.
January will continue to be a very busy month for the WAIS cycling squad with athletes competing in some of the best tournaments in the world.
Josie Tomic will travel to Beijing for the UCI Track World Cup this week. Tomic missed the road race on Saturday to link up in the national training camp in Adelaide and Scott Sunderland will again feature, with his Team Toshiba crew.
Cameron Meyer will get the opportunity to test his wits against a true great of cycling when he races against Lance Armstrong and a host of top quality road cyclists in the Tour Down Under which kicks off in Adelaide on January 15. Travis Meyer will also compete in the world renowned event.
WAIS will also be well represented at the January 14-20 Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney, with Luke Durbridge, Mel Hoskins, Michaela Anderson, Isabella King, Holly Williams and Jonathon Bathe all in line to compete.