WAIS Teams Pursuit Win Silver in World Class Race

Published On: 5 February 2010

WA colected silver in the men's team pursuit. Photo: Cycling Australia/John Veage

Day three of the National Track Championships saw some encouraging signs for West Australian Cycling.

WAIS scholarship holders Cameron Meyer, Travis Meyer, Luke Durbridge and Michael Freiberg suffered a narrow defeat to South Australia in the Men’s 4km team pursuit. Beating their previous Championship record, set last year, the boys recorded an impressive time of 4mins03.370secs.

Unfortunately the South Australian team’s decision to opt for a different and unusual pursuit strategy (with their most inexperienced rider riding second for only three and a quarter laps, with the other three team members riding extra laps) paid off and they reclaimed the Australian Championship record with a time of 4min00.417sec.

Unlucky to miss out on gold after recording such an impressive time, after the race Cameron Meyer said “I have had to eat my words as we gave them a bit of stick before the start and then they made us well and truly look like silver medalists tonight”.

“The last year we sort of knew it would be South Australia versus West Australia in the final and there was a lot of talk going back and forth.”

After establishing such rivalry with the South Australians, the WA boys are now looking to secure a place in Australia’s team pursuit squad which will compete in the March World Championships.

WAIS Head cycling coach Darryl Benson was pleased to see the WA squad break its time from last year’s championships but was equally full of praise for South Australia’s gold medal ride.

“It was a high quality ride from our WA boys, but in fairness they were humbled by a truly fantastic effort from the South Australian team,” he said.

WAIS sprint cyclist Holly Williams. Photo: Cycling Australia/John Veage

In further success for WAIS athletes, scholarship holder Holly Williams won gold in the U19 Women’s Sprint after setting a blitzing time to break the Championship record of 11.782 in the 200m qualifying final the day before. Winning in straight heats over Adele Sylvester (Victoria) in the final, Williams was ecstatic with her results.

“Breaking the Australian Championship record was just a great confidence boost and I am really stoked as a lot of hard work has gone into this and I am happy that it paid off at the end of the day”.

It was encouraging signs all round for West Australia with cyclist Cassandra Flugge defeating Catherine Culvenor (ACT) in straight heats to take the bronze medal.

Capping off a successful day, para-cyclist Claire McLean (a member of the WAIS Athlete Individual Support Program) won gold in the C5 category with a time of 4min11.719sec.

Western Australia’s women’s team pursuit squad consisting of WAIS athletes Josie Tomic, Sarah Kent and Mel Hoskins have qualified fastest for this evenings finals, where they will be highly fancied to retain their national championship.

WAIS’ U19 team also competed in the open event qualifying for the bronze medal ride, with Michaela Anderson, Bella King and Jess Allen looking to medal for WA.

– Emily Raynor