WAIS Cyclists Revel in Medal Successes

Tomic, Kent, Andersson, Williams, Hoskins, Durbridge and Cameron Meyer all claimed medals in what proved to be a thrilling night of cycling.

In arguably the highlight of the night for Darryl Benson’s WAIS cycling squad, training partners and close friends Josie Tomic and Sarah Kent earned gold and silver respectively in the women’s 3km Individual Pursuit.

Tomic recorded a strong time of 3:40.059min which was enough to pip Kent for gold, who stopped the clock at 3:41.937min. Tomic was delighted with the win and was pleased to bounce back after missing out on the medals at the recent UCI world cup event in Beijing.

“Definitely a great way to start the week,” said Tomic. “I came in here as the favourite so to back up and win I am very happy with that.

“I definitely feel the pressure and I went to Beijing (Track World Cup) a few weeks ago and had a disappointing race so I needed a good ride today to bring my confidence up.”

For Kent – who is riding her first year as a senior – the result was another positive step in the right direction for her burgeoning track career.

“I’m pretty stoked actually as I came out of road nationals pretty tired and just happened to get the track legs back,” said Kent. “Josie is an unbeatable force and I look up to her as a role model and a competitor and I think we have a very healthy rivalry and friendship.

“To come second to her, I am pretty happy,” said Kent.

The Meyer brothers featured in the men’s 4km Individual Pursuit medal rounds with Cameron pitted against South Australian prodigy Jack Bobridge for the gold and Travis faced off against Victorian Leigh Howard in the bronze ride off.

Both races were enthralling contests with Bobridge proving too strong for Cameron Meyer, winning his third Australian title of the year in clocking a solid 4:20.294min to finish clear of the 21 year-old Meyer in 4:22.397min.

Meyer won the junior Individual Pursuit world championship in 2006 and has since turned his attentions to road and endurance events, which included a remarkable fourth placed finish in the points race at last year’s Beijing Olympic Games. Meyer saw his silver medal as a brilliant result having only recently returned to the IP format.

“I didn’t put much pressure on myself because it’s my first individual pursuit in two years and I knew that Jack is one of the best in the world at the moment so I just wanted to have a crack and just see what I could do and I think I did that,” said Meyer who has this year begun his first year in the pro road ranks with the Garmin-Chipotle ProTour team. “I haven’t been able to much IP work lately due to road nationals and the Tour Down Under so maybe I could have gone faster, but I also think that the road gave me the form for this event.”

Meyer felt the conditions had prevented both he and Bobridge from recording a faster time.

“I think Jack was the same as we both bumped our gears up, but the heat paid a toll,” said Meyer. “It was hard to keep hydrated today and tonight I just didn’t have that little bit of extra energy.

The bronze medal ride was between two 19 year olds with Leigh Howard, the fourth seed, reversing the qualifying results to finish in 4:24.841min, eight tenths of a second faster than third seed West Australian Travis Meyer who stopped the clock in 4:25.684min.

Luke Durbridge produced a good ride in the men’s U19 pursuit to win silver behind Queensland’s Michael Hepburn who rode himself into history earlier in the day after setting a new world record in qualifying.

Durbridge himself however, set two new PB’s and was satisfied with his result.

“I know that the way Hepburn rides is that he rides fast in the first and last of the race and I thought that I could ride fast enough early that I maybe could get over the line, but it just wasn’t enough,” said Durbridge. “But I set two personal bests today so I am very happy with that.”

WAIS young gun Holly Williams teamed up with fellow West Australian Teegan Morton to win bronze in the women’s team sprint behind two Queensland combinations. The Meares sisters went toe to toe on opposing teams with elder sister Kerrie Meares claiming gold and bragging rights in partnership with Emily Rosemond over Anna Meares and Rebecca Stevenson.

WAIS athletes picked up two medals in the women’s U19 2km Individual Pursuit with Michaela Andersson’s fantastic start to 2009 continuing with a silver medal behind Tasmanian Amy Cure in the gold medal race. Andersson set a time of 2:28.502min which was fractionally short of Cure’s 2:28.074min.

Melissa Hoskins claimed bronze in her ride off against Victorian Shannon McCurley setting a time of 2:29.170min.

The Championships are being staged at Adelaide’s Super-drome from 3 to 8 February. For event schedules, entry lists and further information please visit http://t.ymlp85.com/wqmatauhmaraeseuaxaeehu/click.php