WAIS Cyclists Listed for Major Awards
The Western Australian Institute of Sport has earned eight nominations for the Jayco 2009 Australian Cyclist of the Year Awards after another stellar year of performances on road, track and BMX.
Highlighting the recognition are WAIS world champions Cameron Meyer and Josie Tomic who have been nominated for the Elite Track Cyclist of the Year award in men’s and women’s respectively.
Meyer stepped up from his fourth placed finish in the points race at the Beijing Olympics to win gold at this year’s world championships in Poland, and will be up against young gun Jack Bobridge and the man who partnered him to world championship silver in the Madison Leigh Howard.
Tomic made a significant impact on the senior scene in 2009 with a world title in the omnium supported by a terrific nationals campaign and medals at world cup events. Tomic will go up for the award against one Australia’s finest ever track sprinters Anna Meares, with Kaarle McCulloch also recognized after proving hard to beat in 2009.
The WAIS junior cyclists who took the world by storm at this year’s junior world championships were not overlooked either, with Luke Durbridge and Michaela Anderson both nominated for junior track cyclist of the year awards. Durbridge also scored a nomination for junior road cyclist, hardly surprising given his world champion status in both disciplines.
WAIS BMX rider Lauren Reynolds is nominated for both elite and junior female BMX cyclist of the year and Clare McClean is in contention for the female elite para-cyclist of the year.
WAIS head cycling coach Darryl Benson said that the nominations were just rewards for the hard work and success the squad had put in over the past 12 months.
“When you consider that WAIS has produced two world champions, three junior world champions and excelled on track and road, I guess it’s no real surprise,” he said.
“It’s great that Cam (Meyer) and Josie (Tomic) are being held in that regard, but it’s equally pleasing that Luke (Durbridge) and Michaela (Anderson) are on the pathway towards joining them,” Benson added.
President of Cycling Australia, Mike Victor OAM believes that 2009 has been a huge success with results evident of Australia’s efforts both home and overseas.
“Australian cycling has enjoyed a stellar year both at home and on the international stage,” he said.
“Forty five Australians have been crowned World Champions in 2009 across every discipline and category.”
The Awards will be presented this Sunday November 22 at the Plaza Ballroom in Melbourne.