WAIS Athletes Compete in Beijing World Cup

Published On: 27 January 2011

A bronze medal to WAIS-AIS cyclists Sarah Kent and Mel Hoskins in the team pursuit highlighted the recent UCI Track World Cup in Beijing.

Kent – a reigning world champion in the event – teamed with fellow WAIS rider Mel Hoskins and NSW’s Ashley Ankudinoff to claim bronze in the minor medal round after they defeated the Dutch trio of Kirsten Wild, Vera Koedooder and Laure Van Der Kamp. The gold and silver went to New Zealand and Canada respectively.

Commonwealth Games medallist Michael Freiberg won the scratch race in finishing fifth in the men’s omnium. Freiberg rode top ten efforts in the points race, elimination race, individual pursuit and kilo to go with his scratch race success, placing him just outside the medals with 45 points from the six events. He also finished 11th in the flying lap.

The men’s omnium title was taken out by Britain’s Samuel Harrison, with Zac Bell of Canada and Roger Kluge of Germany rounding out the medals.

AIS-WAIS sprinter Scott Sunderland helped Australia to fifth in the men’s team sprint, whilst the dual Commonwealth Games gold medallist also rode ninth in the men’s sprint.

WAIS cycling coach Daryl Benson said he was pleased with the efforts of his WAIS athletes as they gear towards nationals championships.

“It was a good effort from our guys. It was important they put in a strong showing and continued to learn as they’re still a young group,” he said.

Benson paid particular tribute to Mel Hoskins who’d endured a difficult baptism into the fold of World Cup cycling.

“It showed a lot of courage from Mel. She had a horrendous time at the Cali World Cup (earlier event in Columbia) where everything that could go wrong did. She missed her connecting flights, had to go the long way round, lost all her luggage and had one of the most spectacular crashes I’ve ever seen, which resulted in a nasty concussion,” Benson remarked.

“For her to literally get back on the bike and come away with a medal, will do her confidence no end of good, and I’m very pleased for her,” Benson said.