TRACK CYCLING: Australia claimed five of seven gold on offer on the penultimate day of the 2017 Oceania Track Championships at Melbourne's DISC Velodrome.
Amy Cure (TAS) claimed the omnium title to add to her team pursuit success on Wednesday. Rio Olympian Matt Glaetzer (SA) returned to the track for the first time since August winning bronze in the sprint.
Jade Haines (WA) took out the the under 19 women's omnium and her fourth medal of the championships. Tyler Lindorff (WA) collected the under 19 men's individual pursuit and Kye Bonser (WA) and Brooklyn Vonderwall (SA) the under 19 sprints.
Event Recaps
Omnium
Amy Cure was in fine form to claim her first ever omnium victory in the new four event format. The dual world champion was consistent in the opening three events finishing second in the scratch, tempo and elimination race before dominating the points race and despite her advantage not being afraid to attack.
As she crossed the line for a final time Cure's points tally of 144 delivered her gold ahead of Racquel Sheath (NZL-116) and Holly Edmondston (NZL) on 113.
"It feels really good and I'm really happy how I raced," Cure said. "Obviously with the new format and the bunch races, I really love the bunch races.
"I am really happy with kicking it off with a gold and what I was able to achieve with limited training.
"Was a bit unsure as to how I would go with my big break after the Rio Olympic Games, but I think I really surprised myself out here.
"I am happy with how I raced tactically, I made a few mistakes, but it is all a learning experience and I will take it one step at a time."
The new four event bunch race format is one Cure is excited about as she looks towards the next Olympic cycle and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
"So I am really happy with the change in the format, when it changed, something triggered in my mind and I am really excited with what the future may hold. I am aiming for Tokyo in the omnium," added Cure who competed in the new format at the Revolution Series and Gent Six day in November.
Sam Welsford (WA) narrowly missed defending his omnium title claiming bronze in a testing men's event.
After starting with fifth in the opening scratch race Welsford took second in the tempo and eighth in the elimination to sit in the bronze medal position and just 18 from leader and former world champion Aaron Gate (NZL).
Knowing he needed to be aggressive Welsford was continually on the attack but Gate's experience and speed proved too strong for the young West Australian.
Both Cure and Welsford will line up in the Madison on Saturday.
In the under 19 women's Jade Haines battled to the final sprint to claim a maiden Oceania title after three silver medals earlier in the week. The double points on offer on the final sprint allowed Haines to grab the title over Ellesse Andrews (NZL).
Sprint
In his first hit out since the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in August, Matthew Glaetzer (SA) won bronze in the men's sprint.
The four-time reigning Oceania champion Glaetzer topped the afternoon qualifying with scorching time to break his own All Comers record (fastest time on Australian soil) of 9.781, ahead of New Zealand’s team sprint world champion trio of Edward Dawkins (9.904), Ethan Mitchell (10.008) and Sam Webster (10.127).
The South Australian easily accounted for Chris Maddren (NZL), followed by junior keirin world champion Conor Rowley (VIC) and Jordan Castle (NZL) to progress through to the semi finals.
There Glaetzer and two-time team sprint world champion Dawkins staged an epic Trans-Tasman semi final battle which went down to the wire, with Kiwi overcoming a first heat loss to win in three.
In the bronze medal ride off, Glaetzer and Mitchell also went the distance, with the Australian taking the final heat with a convincing ride to claim the medal.
"It was really tough racing, felt the fatigue coming on quicker than I am used to, need to get back to training, but that will improve with training.
"It was a bit of a shock to the system, but good to get out there again.
"Surprised actually, but it showed I could do that but it started to take its toll with the lack of training," Glaetzer said of setting the fastest ever time on Australian soil.
"I'm really happy to come away with the bronze, the kiwi boys came out firing today."
Glaetzer will be back in action in the keirin on Saturday, which is the final day of the Oceania Championships.
Both the men's and women's under 19 sprints were exciting battles with closes races exciting a vocal crowd to wrap up the evening's racing.
Kye Bonser (WA) took out the men's ahead of James Brister (SA) and Thomas Cornish (NSW) for an all Australian podium. In the women's it was Brooklyn
Vonderwall (SA) who claimed gold and backed up her keirin title from last night. Lara Tucker (QLD) made it two Australian's on the podium.
Men's Under 19 Individual Pursuit
Tyler Lindorff (WA) pursuited his way to the Oceania title in the under 19 men's individual pursuit in three minutes and 24.091 seconds, adding to his team pursuit gold.
