Silver Medal for King at Track National Omnium Champs

WAIS cyclist Isabella King won a silver medal in the women’s omnium at the 2013 Track National Omnium Championships in Melbourne.

The omnium is a test of speed and endurance which sees competitors race in six events over two days – flying 250m lap; points, elimination and scratch races; individual pursuit and time trial. Points are awarded to each rider based on placings in the events and the cyclist with the lowest tally at the end deemed the winner.

King produced a highly consistent campaign to take silver behind Olympic and World Championship medallist Annette Edmondson – with whom at one stage she was tied for the lead.

Edmondson – a two-time reigning Oceania champion – took a five point lead into the fourth event, the individual pursuit, however West Australia’s Isabella King produced a stunning ride to finish second, four places ahead of Edmondson (sixth), which rocketed her into an equal share of the lead.

Unfazed by the threat, Edmondson blitzed the field with victories in the final two events – the scratch race and time trial – to cement her title defence.

“I was off the bike for a couple of weeks and I really had no idea where I was going to be at,” said a relieved Edmondson post-race, referring to the sinus surgery she underwent in late November. “I think the pursuit shows where I’m at and in the bunch races I was coming off wheels instead of leading out like I sometimes do.

“In the end, it came down to tactics rather than physical ability and I’m really happy to get this one because it was an important one for me.

In the past two years, Edmondson has won Olympic bronze and found the World Championship podium twice, in addition to her two Oceania and Australian National titles.

“I am sick of getting second and thirds, yes it’s really nice to get a world’s medal but to come so close to the rainbows every time is pretty hard,” she said. “I’ve got the nose sorted out and it’s full gas from here.”

King (17pts) took the silver medal and 2010 and 2012 champion Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW) claimed bronze on 21 points. WAIS athlete Melissa Hoskins was fourth.

In the men’s U19 event, emerging WAIS cyclist Sam Welsford produced a stunning campaign to win gold in impressive fashion.

It was a dominant display from Welsford, the reigning national points and scratch champion, who took four of six rounds to secure his maiden omnium national crown.

“I’m over the moon, I didn’t come here expecting to do so well, I came here to aim for a top five or top three and I’m pretty happy with how I went,” said Welsford, who was victorious in the pursuit and elimination rounds before triumphing in the scratch race in a sprint to the line against reigning omnium world champion Jack Edwards.

Despite a comfortable six point lead heading into the final event, Welsford kept the foot on the pedal, clocking the fastest time in the time trial to claim the title.

“I’ve rode a couple of personal best times both in the IP and the 1km time trial so they were my special results,” he added.

“This one will be a really special one for me because it’s not just one event, the omnium is six events and it’s all about your overall classification so it’s a really special one for me.”

South Australia’s Alexander Porter (31 points) took the silver medal by leapfrogging Tasmania’s Gerald Evans (32 points) in the final round.

The Omnium Championships were followed by the Track National Maddison Championships, with Isabella King partnering Mel Hoskins for third place.

The race title was won by Annette Edmondson with Jess Mundi, ahead of Josie Talbot and Ashlee Ankudinoff.

-CyclingAustralia