TRACK CYCLING: Wednesday was a golden opening day for Australia at the 2017 Oceania Track Championships with nine of a potential 12 gold medals won at DISC Velodrome.
Rio Olympians Sam Welsford (WA) and Georgia Baker (TAS) stole the show in the elite field, each claiming dual gold with victory in the team pursuit and points race. Kaarle McCulloch defended her 500 metre time trial crown.
Event Recaps
Team Pursuit
Rio Olympians Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Amy Cure (TAS) and Annette Edmondson (SA) teamed with Alex Manly (SA) (who came in for Georgia Baker in the final) to power to gold in the women's team pursuit.
"It was great to be back, we only came together as a team yesterday, had our first track season since Rio," said dual world champion Ankudinoff of the quartet which posted a time of four minutes and 25.517 seconds, nearly three seconds faster than New Zealand (4:28.381).
"This is the start of our season, we had a nice long break after Rio and we are back rejuvenated and ready to roll. It is a big week here, but this is a stepping stone, a start to the next four years."
In the men's reigning world champions Sam Welsford (WA) and Alex Porter (SA) combined with former junior world champions Rohan Wight (SA) and Kelland O'Brien (VIC) setting a time of 3mins 58.800 seconds, six seconds ahead of New Zealands 4mins 5.662secs.
"It was surprisingly quick, the boys rode super," Welsford said.
"We had a bit of a close call there in the last couple of laps, but we rode a great time.
"I still have a few more events here this week, and then the Omnium and Madison next week."
New Zealand took gold in the under 19 women's team pursuit.
Points Race
Baker picked up her second gold of the opening day winning the final sprint and earning double points to finish on 26, with 2014 world champion Amy Cure (TAS-14) making it an Australian 1-2.
"It is great to finish off a successful day in the team pursuit and points," said Baker who re-joined her Australian teammates for the first time since Rio in the team pursuit competition.
"We didn't have any expectations here, for the first time together after a long break, everything went really well out there on the track today and we really surprised ourselves."
In the men's Welsford also picked up his second title in the points race. The young West Australian joined forces with Michael Freiberg (WA), Joshua Harrison (WA) and Aaron Gate (NZL) to take a lap half way through the race pushing Welsford and Harrison in to the lead. With the Australian duo and Gate fighting all the way to the final sprint for the title.
Men's Team Sprint
Australia dominated in the team sprint events with gold flowing in three of four races. Recent World Cup bronze medallist Courtney Field (VIC) and Rikki Belder (SA) claimed the elite women's team sprint in 34.432secs ahead of New Zealand in 35.364secs. In qualifying Holly Takos (SA) lined up with Belder for a time of 34.396secs.
New Zealand's reigning world champions Sam Webster, Edward Dawkins and Ethan Mitchell proved too quick in 43.535secs for Australia's up and coming trio of Conor Rowley (VIC), Thomas Clarke (SA) and Braeden Dean (VIC) who stopped the clock in 45.028secs.
A strong showing by Australia's juniors saw Kai Chapman (NSW) Thomas Cornish (NSW) and Julian Krohn (WA) take gold in 46.173secs. While a time of 36.274secs by Lara Tucker (QLD) and Rihana Pezaj (WA) netted them the under 19 women's
Women's 500m Time Trials
New South Wales' Kaarle McCulloch took a convincing win to defend her 500 metre time trial title in 34.417secs with Breanna Hargrave making it two Australian's on the podium with bronze. Lara Tucker was the top Australian finisher in the under 19 category with a silver medal.
Men's Under 19 omnium
Riley Hart (VIC) claimed the under 19 omnium title on 118 points ahead of Corbin Strong (NZL-114) and Stephen Cuff (NSW-113) in a closely contested final points race.
