Silver Medals for WAIS Pair

WAIS athletes scooped more medals in day two of the National Track Championships in Adelaide.

World Champion WAIS cyclist Josie Tomic picked up her second medal of the championships, after competing in the points race for a silver medal, which added to the bronze medal she won in the women’s individual pursuit on day one.

WAIS sprint cyclist Scott Sunderland was edged for gold in the men’s sprint event, settling for silver in his final against Canberra’s Dan Ellis.

In the U19 events, Isabella King snared silver in the points race, with WAIS training partner Jessica Allen fourth. Holly Williams set a new Australian championship record by clocking 11.782secs in the women’s sprint and will be a big chance for a medal in the finals. Fellow WA youngster, Luke Zacaria has also progressed through to the finals in the men’s U19 sprint.

But it was Tomic and Sunderland’s silver rides that highlighted day two of action for WAIS. Tomic showed her versatility in finishing behind four time national points score champion Belinda Goss yesterday.

Goss has had something of a strangle hold on the event in recent times, but Tomic rode an impressive ride to regularly secure points and place herself second ahead of six -time junior world champion Megan Dunn.

With such quality in the field, Goss was understandably delighted with her national crown.

“I am so excited, I was sick last week, so I was a little bit nervous coming in not knowing how I was going to pull up, but I couldn’t be happier,” said a glowing Goss. “Women’s track cycling in Australia has certainly stepped up and the standard we have here is world class, so to win here tonight, I am really happy.”

The men’s sprint competition had been thrown wide open at the start of the week following news that Australia’s top ranked sprinter Shane Perkins would be absent through illness.

Sunderland proved his sprint credentials by qualifying for the final where he faced his Team Jayco sprint teammate Dan Ellis. Ellis had the extra yard of pace to claim the gold, but maintained Sunderland made him earn it.

“It hurt, it hurt a lot, but being up against Scotty, one of my team mates, we know how to ride each other, so it made it a little bit easier,” explained Ellis. “First individual gold medal at an Australian Championships, it is a great feeling, to come out with the green and gold jersey, it’s excellent.”