WAIS Cyclists Compete at Oceania Championships
WAIS athletes produced some impressive performances at the Oceania Track Championships in Adelaide last weekend.
Junior world champion Sam Welsford earned dual gold in Adelaide, forming part of a victorious Australian team pursuit squad whilst also tasting success in the men’s Madison, partnering Scott Law.
In the team pursuit, Welsford partnered Daniel Fitter, Tirian McManus and Callum Scotson to find the line ahead of New Zealand, with bronze going to an NSWIS quartet. In the Madison, Welsford and Scott proved to strong in tandem, riding a clinical race to control proceedings.
Emerging track star Tahlay Christie won the women’s junior keirin event as well as setting an Australian All-Comers record in qualifying for the junior women’s sprint final. The 16 year-old WAIS athlete eventually earned silver behind junior world champion Courtney Field, despite giving up over two years in age and experience. Christie also won silver in the 500m time trial in a very promising campaign.
Elissa Wundersitz won a bronze medal in the women’s omnium, finishing behind Olympic bronze medallist Annette Edmondson and New Zealander Racquel Sheath. Wundersitz also earned silver in the women’s team pursuit, riding with an Australian composite team. The girls finished behind their New Zealand rivals.
WAIS athlete Niken Jefferies competed for fifth place in the women’s junior scratch race, whilst Wundersitz finished sixth in the senior event. WAIS sprint cyclist Luke Zaccaria got some miles into he legs, finishing 13th in the men’s sprint, in his first event back on track following a shoulder injury after a race crash earlier in the year.