WAIS Cycling Athletes and Coach Earn Award Nominations

Published On: 18 November 2008

Sarah Kent earned a nomination for Track Junior of the year

WAIS athletes and Coach Darryl Benson have earned nominations in Cycling Australia’s 2008 Cyclist of the Year Awards.

The Awards will be presented at a gala celebration being staged at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne Hotel on Sunday 23 November. The night will culminate with the presentation of the Sir Hubert ‘Oppy’ Opperman Medal and Trophy to the 2008 Australian Cyclist of the Year.

“I congratulate all the nominees who have been and will continue to be outstanding ambassadors for cycling and for Australia,” said Mike Victor OAM, President of Cycling Australia. “We have a wealth of talent in our sport from masters to juniors and across all the disciplines and we continue to rank amongst the world’s top nations in the sport.

“I look forward to enjoying a night of celebration to mark the great achievements of our cyclists in 2008.”

The following WAIS nominations are:

Toshiba Elite Track Cyclist of the Year – Male


  • Leigh Howard (VIC)
  • Mark Jamieson (TAS)
  • Cameron Meyer (WAIS)

Elite BMX Cyclist of the Year – Female


  • Tanya Bailey (WAIS)
  • Nicole Callisto (WAIS)
  • Melissa Mankowski (NSW)

cyclingnews.com Junior Cyclist of the Year – Female Track


  • Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW)
  • Megan Dunn (NSW)
  • Sarah Kent (WAIS)

cyclingnews.com Junior Cyclist of the Year – Male Road


  • Luke Durbridge (WAIS)
  • Michael Freiburg (WAIS)
  • Michael Matthews (ACT)

cyclingnews.com Junior Cyclist of the Year – Female BMX


  • Rachel Bracken (QLD)
  • Caroline Buchanan (ACT)
  • Lauren Reynolds ( WAIS)

SBS Television Coach of the Year


  • Darryl Benson (WAIS)
  • Brian Stephens
  • Garry Sutton OAM