WAIS Cyclists Return Home Junior World Champions
A track record that reads 40 medals and nine world champions since the Junior World Championships were introduced in 2005, would suggest that the Western Australian Institute of Sport’s Cycling Program knows a thing or two about developing young talent.
Just last week, Michaela Anderson (second time) and Isabella King added their names to a rapidly expanding list of Junior World Championship title holders after the pair cycled with Tasmanian Amy Cure to win the Team Pursuit crown in Montichiari, Italy.
Not only did they take gold however, they broke the junior world record, held by Australia – after Anderson and Cure had last year won gold with another WAIS champion Melissa Hoskins – reinforcing the green and gold dominance of the event.
Add to that the three medal (one silver and two bronze) performance of Junior World Championship debutant Holly Williams, and it is not hard to see why WAIS head coach Darryl Benson is a very happy man.
“I believe all three girls have very bright futures ahead of them,” said the man who week in week out is track side, out at the Midvale SpeedDome running the group through their paces.
“The obvious target for this group is Rio 2016, but I firmly believe these girls will put the current senior crop under serious pressure ahead of London 2012,” said Benson.
The transformation of Isabella “Bella” King from triathlete two years ago, to cycling junior world champion in such a short period of time has surprised all but those that know her.
“Bella has worked so hard to get here, and trained relentlessly for these World Championships,” said Benson. “She is very deserving, and walks away with a medal around her neck and a junior world record.
King also featured in the points race in her first event in Italy, finishing a disappointing 11th. But rather than lose her way, King fought back and produced a gutsy effort to win silver in the Omnuim, which is competed over two days. The new format consists of a flying lap, points race and an elimination race on the first day of Omnium competition, before backing up with an individual pursuit, scratch race and 500m time-trial on the second day.
Despite suffering a race fall in the points race on day one, King borrowed a bike and dusted herself down to claim victory, whilst also netting third place in the elimination race, leaving her second after day one. Heading into the final event – the 500m time-trial – King was still in contention, but couldn’t shake the talented and determined UK rider for gold.
Gold would follow however in the team pursuit, after she Michaela Anderson and Amy Cure cruised to victory in the final over New Zealand. Having qualified seven seconds faster, the Australians not only caught their rivals in the last lap, but turned up the pace on a wide run to set a new junior world record time. One that bettered the previous mark by 1.6secs, stopping the clock at 3:26.808mins.
The result was one to savour for Anderson, who earlier in the meet relinquished her world champion status in the Individual Pursuit, finishing fourth.
“It was a real credit to Mickey after the individual pursuit, she was inconsolable,” her coach revealed. “She showed great fight and incredible character to combine so powerfully in the team in the way she did.”
Another WAIS athlete making big inroads in Italy was 17 year-old Holly Williams. The young sprinter enjoyed a busy campaign in Italy, medalling in the keirin, sprint and team sprint.
Williams highlight came in the keirin event, qualifying for the gold medal ride after some impressive form through the early stages. Whilst she was pipped by her Russian counterpart for gold, coach Darryl Benson believes her efforts will hold her in good stead for the future.
“Holly came through the WAIS talent search four years ago, and has made it through WAIS and state ranks into international competition,” he said. “I’m very proud of her efforts as she has worked hard to lift her standard in her short time in the sport.”
Williams also scored bronze medals in the women’s sprint and team sprint and will now look to emulate the list of past junior world championship representatives from WAIS, such as Cameron Meyer, Josie Tomic and Sarah Kent – who are all current senior World Champions.