Silver Swag for WAIS Cyclists at Oceania Track Champs
WAIS athletes have medalled on the first day of competition at the Oceania Track Championships in New Zealand in an official UCI event that runs from November 19-22.
AIS-WAIS athlete Scott Sunderland – who has made the switch to endurance events after competing in the men’s sprint at the 2012 London Olympics – picked up a silver medal as a member of the Australian Team Pursuit squad that finished behind New Zealand in the final for second place.
Sunderland rode with Miles Scotson, Josh Harrison and Tirian McManus to post a time of 4:03.769 that was bettered by the hosts, who stopped the clock at 3:59.385.
Sunderland also contested the men’s 1km time trial – an event he won gold in at the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Sunderland again collected silver, setting the second fastest time of 1:01.270 to finish behind New Zealand’s Simon Van Velthooven (1:00.765).
Two young WAIS cyclists showed a glimpse of the future of Australia’s track potential, with Elissa Wundersitz and Kelsey Robson pairing with Georgia Baker and Annette Edmondson to steer Australia to a silver medal behind New Zealand.
The Australian quartet was bested by less than half a second in the gold medal ride, impressing in the four kilometre event.
Wundersitz added individual silver to her collection, competing in the women’s 10km scratch race in a busy day of competition.
In the U19 ranks, emerging WAIS talent Matt Jackson secured a silver medal in the men’s individual time trial with fellow WAIS athlete Alex Rendell narrowly missing bronze in fourth. The pair also took to the boards for the first day of competition in the junior men’s omnium, with the duo currently sitting in first and second place respectively.
WAIS athlete Trent Derecourt was involved in the men’s 10km scratch race, but faded late to finish in 13th position.