WAIS Athletes Compete in Track World Cup in Cali

Published On: 6 December 2011

The Australian men’s team pursuit squad was controversially disqualified from the gold medal race at the recent UCI Track World Cup event in Cali, Columbia.

WAIS-AIS athlete Luke Durbridge and his teammates Rohan Dennis, Michael Hepburn and rookie Mitchell Mulhern were relegated in their medal ride-off against New Zealand after an Australian rider came off his bike early, with a national team coach halting his charges.

Officials deemed that Australia had quit the race, in stopping their riders, leaving New Zealand victorious without having to complete the 4km race.

Earlier, Australia had set the fastest time in qualifying with a slick time of 4.02.739 that was more than a second in advance of the rest of the field.

In the women’s team pursuit, WAIS-AIS athletes Sarah Kent and Josie Tomic joined South Australian Annette Edmondson in qualifying, with Australia narrowly missing the bronze medal race, when they clocked the fifth fastest time in 3.41.566.

Sarah Kent also competed in the individual time trial, finishing fourth, missing out on the bronze medal to Ukrainian Lesya Kalitovska.

Fellow WAIS-AIS scholarship holder Melissa Hoskins competed in the multi event women’s omnium, earning a top ten finish in ninth, collecting 61 points. The win went to American cyclist Sarah Hammer.

In domestic action, the Western Australian Track State Championships were held at the Midvale Speed Dome last weekend, with WAIS athletes returning a big swag of medals.

Bella King was in dominant mood, claiming victories in the women’s scratch race, individual pursuit and sprint, also taking silver in the keirin. The keirin was won by Holly Williams, who took silver in the sprint behind King.

Allee Proud won the U19 women’s sprint and claimed second position in the keirin, whilst in other women’s U19 events, Kelsey Robson won the scratch race and individual pursuit and Tian Beckett won the keirin.

In the men’s U19 events, Theo Yates was first in the scratch race, keirin and sprint, with a second place in the individual pursuit behind Trent Deracourt, who also medalled in the scratch race (second) and keirin (second). Luke Vitler was third in the scratch race, individual pursuit and keirin.