CYCLING: Australia claimed four gold from a 16-medal haul on the opening day of competition at the 2016 Oceania Track Championships in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Kaarle McCulloch led the way with two gold first in the team sprint with Anna Meares and Stephanie Morton before adding the 500m time trial (non-Olympic). Lauren Perry claimed gold in the scratch race (non-Olympic) while Tahlay Christie took out the under 19 500m time trial.

Team Sprint

Three time world champions Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch combined to claim gold in 33.297secs, beating New Zealand's Katie Schofield & Natasha Hansen by nearly a second. Stephanie Morton partnered with McCulloch in qualifying, posting the fastest time of 33.338secs

"I am really pleased that we came away with the win, we came here to win and solidify our ranking for Rio," said McCulloch. "I am a little disappointed with my individual performance but I am running faster than I ever have at this time of the season and so it looks very promising for me."

Bronze went to Catherine Culvenor and Stefanie Fernandez Preiksa. 

2012 world champion Matthew Glaetzer joined forces with Patrick Constable and Jacob Schmid in the men's event to qualify for the gold medal ride in 44.341secs.

Peter Lewis replaced Schmid in the final with the Australian trio getting off to a fast start on route to silver in 44.376secs. Falling just short of the 43.810 seconds set by Edward Dawkins, Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell of New Zealand.

In the under 19 competition Tahlay Christie and Georgia Quick claimed silver in 35.937, marginally behind Emma Cumming and Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand-35.838). Chelsea Oaten and Laura Jones collected bronze.

While in the under 19 men's Kye Bonser, Charles Hofman and Kai Chapman, collected silver in 47.742, nearly half a second faster than their qualifying ride but unable to overcome New Zealand's Bradly Knipe, Hamish Beadle and Jackson Ogle.

Time Trials

There was no denying Kaarle McCulloch a second gold as she flew around the track stopping the clock in 34.237secs to claim gold.

"I was happy to win the 500 as I hope to be able to ride it at the world championships this season," explained McCulloch. "It's also a good time for me for this time of the year and very close to my PB."

Silver and bronze went to New Zealand duo Natasha Hansen 34.982secs and Katie Schofield 35.230. Caitlin Ward narrowly missed a medal finishing fourth in 35.697secs.

Australia took a clean sweep of the under 19 women's event with Junior World Championship representative Tahlay Christie taking a convincing win in 35.584 seconds. Georgia Quick claimed silver in 37.573secs and Chelsea Oaten 38.192secs bronze.

Nicholas Yallouris was the top finisher in the men's one kilometre time trial finishing fourth in 1min 3.894secs. Gold went to Zac Williams in 1min 1.655secs ahead of Simon Van Velthooven and Jeremy Presbury.

Team Pursuit

New Zealand's Aaron Gate, Hayden Roulston, Luke Mudgway and Nick Kergozou proved too strong claiming gold in 4mins 2.663secs. A youthful Australian team lead by 2013 world champion Alex Morgan with reigning junior world champions Rohan Wight and James Robinsonand former junior world champion Alex Porter was close in 4mins 4.107secs.

"It's fair to say that this mornings qualifying ride was way too conservative early on and we never really got up to speed," explained Morgan on the nine-second improvement on qualifying in the final. "With this in mind we really wanted to redeem ourselves in the final and the boys did just that."

"We went out hard and held it really well. The young guys were all great. 

"They all really switched on and gave 110% to their assigned jobs. I was really happy with how we rode in the final and really brought it to the Kiwis."

A strong fight back by former junior world champions Macey Stewart, Lauren Perry and Georgia Baker with Elissa Wundersitz had them in contention for gold with one kilometre to go. New Zealand proved too strong and held off the chase to claim gold in 4mins 33.995secs to Australia's 4mins 35.475secs for silver.

Scratch Races

Lauren Perry took a convincing win to add to her Australian national title proving too strong for Sophie Williamson and Alysha Keith (New Zealand) who rounded out the podium.

With five laps to go a strong attack by Luke Mudgway (New Zealand) allowed him to steal 50 metres on the bunch. A late charge by Sam Welsford came up just short but earned him silver, as Jackson Law rounded out the podium.

In the under 19 women's event a late attack by Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand) just held off to cross the line first as the bunch rapidly approached. Chloe Heffernan sprinted to the bronze medal behind Emma Cumming (New Zealand).

Under 19 Men's Individual Pursuit

Jordan Louis went toe to toe with New Zealand's Hugo Jones in the opening kilometre in the race for bronze before finishing fourth in 3mins 33.762secs. Gold went to Connor Brown ahead of Joshua Scott, both of New Zealand.

Under 19 Men's Omnium

Josh Toovey took out the opening scratch race to get his omnium campaign off to a strong start. With sixth and seventh in the individual pursuit and elimination race Toovey sits second overall on 98 points, eight off the lead. Nick Edwards is third and Jordan Louis fifth both on 94.

Cycling Australia