Commonwealth Games champion and World Championship silver medallist Shane Perkins tonight reclaimed the Australian sprint crown only after fending off a strong challenge from West Australia's Scott Sunderland in a hard fought three round final.
Commonwealth Games champion and World Championship silver medallist Shane Perkins tonight reclaimed the Australian sprint crown but only after fending off a strong challenge from West Australia's Scott Sunderland in a hard fought three round final.
"It's a great feeling, Aussie titles are always special and leading into a world championships it is always good to have a good result here and show the world you are going well," said Perkins who won the title in 2009 but missed last year's Championships due to injury.
Perkins broke the Australian championship record in yesterday's qualifying session with his time of 10.058 for the flying 200m and then breezed through the early rounds. He was given a free pass through the semi-finals after 2008 Beijing Olympian Daniel Ellis withdrew injured.
Sunderland, who qualified third fastest with 10.201, fought back from one heat down in his semi final against South Australia's Matthew Glaetzer to earn a berth in the final. In the first heat Perkins looked to be in control as the pair headed into the final turn for home but a surge by Sunderland in the final 25 metres saw him edge out Perkins on the line to take the win.
Perkins changed tactics in the second heat with a burst of speed that shut out his rival. In the third and deciding heat Perkins blew past Sunderland to clinch the win.
"Scott was riding really well and pulled out some great rides in the final and fortunately I had enough legs to get over him tonight," said Perkins, who was glad the walkover in the semi final did not affect his performance in the final. "It didn't do me any good actually, as I was trying to warm up in the middle and it's a bit of a different feel as you lose the feel of the track and your confidence of being out there.
"And the first heat was really fast, but I managed to find my legs in the second and they just got better in the third," added Perkins.
South Australia's Matthew Glaetzer was awarded the bronze medal in the absence of an opponent to race.
Meanwhile 2010 sprint champion Ellis will fly back to Adelaide tomorrow for medical tests after injuring his hip and shoulder in a crash in his quarter final race against Mitch Bullen (NSW). Ellis collected dozens of splinters including one around 20cm long which was removed from his rear and suffered track burn down his left side but the concern is over damage to his left AC joint (shoulder).
"I felt like I had some good form coming in to the event and I did a PB in the 200 qualifying," said a disappointed Elllis. "Coming up to Manchester (World Cup round) and worlds we're hoping for big things, but the hope's still there we just have make sure we do everything right now."
Sydney's Kaarle McCulloch claimed her second gold medal of the week with a dominant display in the women's 500 metre time trial. McCulloch, 22, covered the two laps in a time of 34.465, over a second and a half faster than silver medalist Stephanie Morton of South Australia who posted 36.005. West Australia's Holly Williams (37.078) claimed bronze.
"I was a bit disappointed with the first lap, as I wanted to get in the low 19s which I was near," said McCulloch who claimed the title last year, "But I was (only) two tenths off my PB today, so I am on the money.
"With the timed events I never think about who I am up against, it is about doing the best time I can."
McCulloch, who claimed the gold in last night's team sprint with Cassandra Kell, was the second fastest in this morning's sprint qualifying with 11.431 behind her team sprint world champion partner Anna Meares, who broke the Australian Championship record with her time of 11.088.
"I think I am riding into my legs this week and I have been working really hard with my coach Gary West on some tactical strategies ahead of the sprint, so I really think I have a good shot at the gold medal tomorrow," added McCulloch.
West Australia's Josephine Tomic claimed her second gold medal of the championships adding the women's 25km points race title to the indvidual pursuit crown she won yesterday.
Tomic, 21, collected early points after setting the pace in the strong field which featured fellow team pursuit world champion Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), reigning junior points world champion Amy Cure of Tasmania and former junior world champions Melissa Hoskins and Isabella King, both from West Australia.
Tomic held off strong challenges to finish with 26 points just ahead of Hoskins (24pts) with Cure of Tasmania in third place with 20 points.
"I managed to just hold on and now, two from two, so I am very happy," said Tomic. "I haven't touched the points (handle) bars for two or three months, so I was a little bit unsure what to expect going into this.
"Plus it was a shame to not have Belinda Goss and Megan Dunn, our two top points riders, out there tonight as it is always good riding against them.
"But while they are away, I will always try to take my chance and see how I can go and I pulled it off tonight."
Cycling Australia
"It's a great feeling, Aussie titles are always special and leading into a world championships it is always good to have a good result here and show the world you are going well," said Perkins who won the title in 2009 but missed last year's Championships due to injury.
Perkins broke the Australian championship record in yesterday's qualifying session with his time of 10.058 for the flying 200m and then breezed through the early rounds. He was given a free pass through the semi-finals after 2008 Beijing Olympian Daniel Ellis withdrew injured.
Sunderland, who qualified third fastest with 10.201, fought back from one heat down in his semi final against South Australia's Matthew Glaetzer to earn a berth in the final. In the first heat Perkins looked to be in control as the pair headed into the final turn for home but a surge by Sunderland in the final 25 metres saw him edge out Perkins on the line to take the win.
Perkins changed tactics in the second heat with a burst of speed that shut out his rival. In the third and deciding heat Perkins blew past Sunderland to clinch the win.
"Scott was riding really well and pulled out some great rides in the final and fortunately I had enough legs to get over him tonight," said Perkins, who was glad the walkover in the semi final did not affect his performance in the final. "It didn't do me any good actually, as I was trying to warm up in the middle and it's a bit of a different feel as you lose the feel of the track and your confidence of being out there.
"And the first heat was really fast, but I managed to find my legs in the second and they just got better in the third," added Perkins.
South Australia's Matthew Glaetzer was awarded the bronze medal in the absence of an opponent to race.
Meanwhile 2010 sprint champion Ellis will fly back to Adelaide tomorrow for medical tests after injuring his hip and shoulder in a crash in his quarter final race against Mitch Bullen (NSW). Ellis collected dozens of splinters including one around 20cm long which was removed from his rear and suffered track burn down his left side but the concern is over damage to his left AC joint (shoulder).
"I felt like I had some good form coming in to the event and I did a PB in the 200 qualifying," said a disappointed Elllis. "Coming up to Manchester (World Cup round) and worlds we're hoping for big things, but the hope's still there we just have make sure we do everything right now."
Sydney's Kaarle McCulloch claimed her second gold medal of the week with a dominant display in the women's 500 metre time trial. McCulloch, 22, covered the two laps in a time of 34.465, over a second and a half faster than silver medalist Stephanie Morton of South Australia who posted 36.005. West Australia's Holly Williams (37.078) claimed bronze.
"I was a bit disappointed with the first lap, as I wanted to get in the low 19s which I was near," said McCulloch who claimed the title last year, "But I was (only) two tenths off my PB today, so I am on the money.
"With the timed events I never think about who I am up against, it is about doing the best time I can."
McCulloch, who claimed the gold in last night's team sprint with Cassandra Kell, was the second fastest in this morning's sprint qualifying with 11.431 behind her team sprint world champion partner Anna Meares, who broke the Australian Championship record with her time of 11.088.
"I think I am riding into my legs this week and I have been working really hard with my coach Gary West on some tactical strategies ahead of the sprint, so I really think I have a good shot at the gold medal tomorrow," added McCulloch.
West Australia's Josephine Tomic claimed her second gold medal of the championships adding the women's 25km points race title to the indvidual pursuit crown she won yesterday.
Tomic, 21, collected early points after setting the pace in the strong field which featured fellow team pursuit world champion Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), reigning junior points world champion Amy Cure of Tasmania and former junior world champions Melissa Hoskins and Isabella King, both from West Australia.
Tomic held off strong challenges to finish with 26 points just ahead of Hoskins (24pts) with Cure of Tasmania in third place with 20 points.
"I managed to just hold on and now, two from two, so I am very happy," said Tomic. "I haven't touched the points (handle) bars for two or three months, so I was a little bit unsure what to expect going into this.
"Plus it was a shame to not have Belinda Goss and Megan Dunn, our two top points riders, out there tonight as it is always good riding against them.
"But while they are away, I will always try to take my chance and see how I can go and I pulled it off tonight."
Cycling Australia
