WAIS Cyclists Impress at Oceania Champs
The next generation of WAIS track cycling stars gave another glimpse of their future potential with some impressive performances at the Oceania Track Championships in Adelaide.
WAIS youngster Elissa Wundersitz claimed gold in the U19 women’s scratch race, to go with a bronze medal in the multi event women’s omnium.
Wundersitz claimed victory in the scratch race after collecting 13 points to finish ahead of New Zealand’s Laura Heywood (10) and Victoria’s Ruby Greig-Hurtig (8).
In the men’s U19 team pursuit, the Western Australian quartet of Brendon Meney (WAIS), Blake Smith, Sam Welsford (WAIS) and Theodore Yates (WAIS) (4:15:224) narrowly missed out on a team pursuit medal after South Australian’s Jack Hogan, Matthew Holmes, Tom Kaesler and Alexander Porter (4:13.958 ) clocked a faster time than any qualifying time earlier that day.
In the under 19 women’s sprint final it was Tennille Falappi of Queensland who claimed a 2-0 victory over Tian Beckett (WAIS) while Holly Takos (SA) was awarded bronze over Emily Apolito (VIC).
Beckett earlier in the meet, claimed gold in the women’s U19 500m time trial.
On the final night of the championships, Australia again showed its dominance winning all finals on offer with Olympians Matthew Glaetzer (SA), Annette Edmondson (SA) and Kaarle McCulloch (NSW) all finding top spot on the podium.
However it was Sydney rider Ashlee Ankudinoff who stole the show after bagging a total of four gold medals for the championships.
Ankudinoff won the women’s 20k points race on the final night of competition (28 points) over New Zealand’s Alysha Keith (21 points) and Georgia Williams (NZ) on 17 points.
The win capped off what was a very successful Oceania campaign for the 22-year-old with victories in the team pursuit, individual pursuit and the 10km scratch race.
“I’m really happy coming to a major event like the Oceania Championships and winning, it is such a great feeling,” Ankudinoff said following her points race win.
“I wasbitterlydisappointed when I missed out on selection in the Australian Team that went to the London Olympics and now I am really enjoying racing again. Mypreparation was good and my results showed that,”Ankudinoff explained.
Matthew Glaetzer again shone when he clinched gold in the keirin final from Andrew Taylor (NSW) and Jaron Gardiner (NZ).
The win followed Glaetzer’s gold in the men’s sprint the night before and in the team’s sprint with Lewis and Alex Bird (ACT) on the opening night of the championships.
London Omnium bronze medallist Annette Edmondson (SA) added an Oceania title to her Omnium collection when she dominated the event, winning all six events over West Australian’s Isabella King (12 points) and New Zealand’s Sequoia Cooper (23 points).
The gold was Edmondson’s second for the championships, adding to her team pursuit medal with teammates Ankudinoff and Isabella King (WAIS).
Kaarlee McCulloch got revenge on her younger rival Stephanie Morton (SA) in the women’s sprint, defeating the 22-year-old in straight heats. The win came after Morton toppled McCulloch for the women’s keirin title on Thursday night.
The win was McCulloch’s second for the championships after she took out the 500m time trial victory on Wednesday.
The sprint bronze medal went to senior debutant Taylah Jennings (QLD) after she won her battle with New Zealand’s Steph McKenzie in the third heat.
– Cycling Australia