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2005 Australian Senior Track Championships - CN
Adelaide, South Australia, February 7-12, 2005
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Day 4 - February 10: Men sprint; Men TP; U19 men points; U19 women sprint; U19 women scratch; AWD tandem sprint
Dajka back on top; Tasmanians make history
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South Australian Jobie Dajka gave the home crowd something to cheer about tonight when he took out the men's sprint title at the 2005 Australian Track Cycling Championships in Adelaide. Dajka, the keirin gold medallist and sprint silver medallist at the 2002 World Championships, defeated three time kilometre time trial World Champion, Shane Kelly (VIC) in straight heats in the best of three races to decide the Australian crown.
"I've never felt more pressure in my life," said Dajka. "Not because I was coming back in front of Adelaide but because I was in a final against a 'kilo' guy and I'd get a lot of flack if I lost."
Dajka was the fastest qualifier for the sprint by three tenths of second over Kelly and although the Victorian was the first rider to give Dajka a run for his money the Adelaide speedster proved too strong in the final lunge for the line in both heats. "An Australian title is always good to get, especially after the year I had, but if I look behind too long I'm going to run into things" said Dajka who returned to competition in January after a four month suspension. "I'm probably at 85 percent with final prep to come in Sydney (World Cup Feb 18-20)."
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Dajka's form puts him in contention for a medal at the World Championships in Los Angeles where Australia will be missing Olympic champion Ryan Bayley due to injury. "It's just the challenge of final touches and getting to where I was last year and the year before," said Dajka who will race the keirin event here on Saturday. "I can go well in the keirin but in the sprints I know I need a bit of work in the next four or five weeks to get there."
In the 4km men's team pursuit battle for the Southcott Cup Tasmania upstaged their more fancied rivals New South Wales who had won the event for four of the past five years. The Tasmanian quartet of Mark Jamieson, who claimed the individual pursuit title on Tuesday night, Matthew Goss, Stephen Rossendell and Nathan Clarke were unstoppable leading from the gun to claim Tasmania's first ever team pursuit crown.
The four caught the New South Wales line up of Olympic and World team pursuit champion, Stephen Wooldridge, Christopher Pascoe, Christopher Sutton and Ben Kersten with one lap to go. Kersten, who is traditionally a shorter distance rider was briefed to give it his all and pull out in the latter stages of the 16 lap race but the plan came unstuck when Sutton's saddle broke forcing him to pull out and leaving the team in disarray. Under the rules the team's time is taken on the third rider across the line and as Kersten had just put in a big two lap effort in preparation for pulling out he was unable to close the gap to rejoin his team mates and was overtaken by Tasmania. Even though NSW had qualified faster (4:13.618) than the Tasmanians (4:14.470) a NSW team official admitted the mishap in the final did not affect the result saying 'they had us on toast'.
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The Tasmanians had an added incentive to make history and that was to provide a fitting farewell to their coach Kevin Tabotta, who next week takes up his role as Cycling Australia High Performance Manager. "I thought maybe we'd won one decades ago but they tell me this is the first time in history," said a jubilant Tabotta. "The boys were pumped and we sat down before the race and I said 'well this is your chance now to make history'. It's really something for them and it's something for me going out," said Tabotta. "I'm really, really happy about this result."
Tabotta was full of praise for his team especially powerhouse performer, Jamieson, the 2002 junior pursuit world champion, who has now well and truly put his name on the list for a future in the senior ranks. "Mark Jamieson is inspirational because four months ago he was lucky to be riding a bike," said Tabotta of the difficulty Jamieson had in making the transition last year from U19 to senior ranks. "His motivation had dropped, his love for the sport had dropped and we've been working really hard to get that back for him.
"A week ago I would have said to you it's touch and go," said Tabotta. "But you're dealing with a racehorse, not a donkey and it showed tonight."
The bronze medal was awarded to Victoria's Richard England, Steven Sansonetti, Sean Finning and David Pell who posted the third fastest time in the qualifying round (4:14.668).
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It was another upset in the U19 team pursuit which has been the traditional battlefield of New South Wales and Victoria in recent years. Victoria made the final with Zakkari Dempster, Mark O'Brien, Mario Giramondo and Gerard Murphy who posted 4:24.837 in qualifying but it was Queensland on the other side of the track in the race for gold. Kyle Bateson, Todd Dawson, Hayden Josefski and Joel Davis had ridden 4:26.245 in the qualifying round but they more than made up for the one and half second deficit to the Victorians when it came to the crunch. Queensland hit the lead early with Victoria fighting back but not enough to reel in the northern juggernaut. Queensland won in 4:21.352 to Victoria's 4:21.727. New South Wales' Tyler McLachlan, Mitchell Pearson, Jackson-Leigh Rathbone and Matthew Pettit were awarded bronze for the third fastest time in qualifying of 4:26.365.
Victoria gained some solace though when Dempster hit back in the U19 men's 25km points race to claim gold with 47 points ahead of West Australian Cameron Meyer (42pts) and Mitchell Pearson (NSW) on 36pts.
The U19 women's sprint gave Queensland more reason to celebrate as Chloe MacPherson claimed gold over Victorian Jessica Tanner winning two of the three races to decide the Championship. Jennifer Loutit of Canberra took the bronze in straight heats against New Zealand's Brigette Broad.
Sydney's Skye-Lee Armstrong powered away from the pack in the second last lap of the U19 women's 7.5km scratch race to score an emphatic win. South Australian Bianca Rogers was second with 2004 junior points race World Champion Amanda Spratt (NSW) third.
Paralympian Janet Shaw (WA) with pilot Kerry Cohen won the multidisability tandem sprint defeating South Australians Felicity Johnson and pilot Vicki Birks in straight heats.
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Meantime Friday's women's sprint final will be a battle between the Meares sisters after Kerrie upset the 2004 Olympic sprint champion Lori-Anne Muenzer in straight heats in the semi final. Sprint Olympic bronze medallist Anna also had a scare when she misjudged her second heat against New Zealand's Liz Williams and was forced to the third and deciding heat to get through to the final.
The last time the sisters met at a National Championships was in 2000 when Kerrie knocked Anna off her bike in the deciding heat of the gold medal round. Anna was awarded the title after judges ruled Kerrie guilty of dangerous riding.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Rachel Burke/www.maximumattack.biz
- Anna Meares (QLD) getting prepared for her race.
- Liz Williams (NZL) wins by a narrow margin against Kristine Bayley from WA.
- WA team mates Janet Shaw and Kerry Cohen awaiting the start of their race against the home town pair.
- Concentrating on the start line the Victorian team get psyched up.
- The Queensland team wind up down the front straight.
- A Victorian team member leans into the corner during the team pursuit in their attempt to win the Bill Young Trophy.
- The Victorian pursuit team in full flight.
- One of the Queensland team members riding comfortably.
- The Queensland team celebrate their victory in the team pursuit Bill Young Trophy against their Victorian opponents.
- Setting up on the start line the NSW contingent about to contest the team pursuit - Southcott Cup.
- The team from NSW chasing victory but edged out by the Tasmanians in the team pursuit - Southcott Cup race.
- The Tasmanian team in full flight led by Mark Jamieson.
- Mark Jamieson is interviewed after his team's historic victory in the team pursuit - Southcott Cup.
- The crowd watches - eagerly anticipating hometown favourite Jobie Dajka's race.
- On the attack Jobie Dajka (SA).
- Canadian rider Lori-Ann Muenzer in the sights of Queensland favourite Anna Meares.
- Jobie Dajka (SA) stalking his prey in NSW rider Sean Dwight during their Mens Sprint heat.
- A test of team loyalty as Shane Kelly and Jason Niblett (VIC) ride against each other to progress in the heats of the men's sprint.
- Shane Kelly edges out Victorian team mate Jason Niblett by fractions of a second.
- Jennifer Loutit (ACT) claims a narrow victory over New Zealand rider Brigette Broad.
- Jessica Tanner (VIC) and Chloe MacPherson (QLD) do battle in the women's u19 sprint race.
- Jason Niblett (VIC) and Sean Dwight (NSW) cross the line in just one example of the amazingly close racing from tonight.
- Felicity Johnson and Vicki Birks (SA) take their place for the beginning of the MD Women's Tandem Sprint.
- The SA tandem team of Felicity Johnson and Vicki Birks keep a watchful eye n the WA pair of Janet Shaw and Kerry Cohen in the MD women's tandem sprint.
- Queensland rider Chloe MacPherson (QLD) catches her breath after claiming victory in the Women's U19 Sprint race.
- Sean Dwight (NSW) attacks against Jason Niblett in their semi final race of the Mens Sprint.
- Shane Kelly and Jobie Dajka acknowledge each others efforts after the race.
- Jobie Dajka salutes the crowd after claiming the gold medal, with Shane Kelly claiming Silver.
- Back on track - Jobie Dajka (SA) takes a race win against Shane Kelly in the Gold medal ride of the Mens Sprint.
- The Mens U19 Points race was another nail bitingly close race riding shoulder to shoulder.
- Using all of the track on the corner all riders wanted to keep in touch with the lead bunch.
- Tonight's gold, silver and bronze medal winners.
- Mark Jamieson (centre) proudly shows off his Tasmanian teams' reward - the Southcott Cup, together with the victorious Queensland team (below) with their spoils, the Bill Young Trophy.
- Proving hard work certainly does pay off - the Tasmanian team with their coach proudly displaying their trophy from the team pursuit.
- All media eyes were on the in form Tasmanian team who took out the team pursuit - Southcott Cup.
- The ornate team pursuit Bill Young trophy claimed by the Queensland team.
Results
Session 8
W19 Sprint Semi Finals Heat 1 1 Chloe Macpherson (Qld) 12.822 12.744 2 Jennifer Loutit (ACT) Heat 2 1 Jessica Tanner (Vic) 13.256 13.362 2 Brigette Broad (NZL) W19 Sprint Final Gold & Silver Medals 1 Chloe Macpherson (Qld) 12.740 13.351 2 Jessica Tanner (Vic) 12.894 Bronze Medal 3 Jennifer Loutit (ACT) 13.442 13.321 4 Brigette Broad (NZL) Women's Sprint Quarter Final Heat 1 1 Anna Meares (Qld) 12.910 2 Rebecca Borgo (NSW) Heat 2 1 Lori-Ann Muenzer (Can) 12.512 2 Elizabeth Georgouras (NSW) Heat 3 1 Kerrie Meares (Qld) 12.875 2 Laura Mccaughey (Tas) Heat 4 1 Liz Williams (NZL) 12.295 2 Kristine Bayley (WA) Women Sprint 5th - 8th 1 Laura Mccaughey (Tas) 12.365 2 Kristine Bayley (WA) 3 Elizabeth Georgouras (NSW) 4 Rebecca Borgo (NSW) Women Sprint Semi Finals Heat 1 1 Anna Meares (Qld) 12.432 12.708 2 Liz Williams (NZL) 12.447 Heat 2 1 Kerrie Meares (Qld) 12.391 12.790 2 Lori-Ann Muenzer (Can) M19 4000m Team Pursuit Final (Bill Young Trophy) Gold & Silver Medals 1 Kyle Bateson (Qld) 4:21.352 Todd Dawson (Qld) Hayden Josefski (Qld) Joel Davis (Qld) 2 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 4:21.727 Mark O'brien (Vic) Mario Giramondo (Vic) Gerard Murphy (Vic) 3 NSW Men 4000m Team Pursuit Final (Southcott Cup) Gold & Silver Medals 1 Nathan Clarke (Tas) (3:54.263) Stephen Rossendell (Tas) Mark Jamieson (Tas) Matthew Goss (Tas) 2 Ben Kersten (NSW) Caught with 1 lap to go Stephen Wooldridge (NSW) Christopher Pascoe (NSW) Christopher Sutton (NSW) 3 Victoria *The time was taken with 1 lap to go Men Sprint Semi Finals Heat 1 1 Jobie Dajka (SA) 11.414 11.763 2 Sean Dwight (NSW) Heat 2 1 Shane Kelly (Vic) 11.326 11.562 2 Jason Niblett (Vic) Men Sprint Final Gold & Silver Medals 1 Jobie Dajka (SA) 11.176 11.227 2 Shane Kelly (Vic) Bronze Medal 3 Sean Dwight (NSW) 13.176 11.791 4 Jason Niblett (Vic) 11.274 Women Tandem Sprint Final 1 Janet Shaw (WA) 13.028 12.925 Kerry Cohen 2 Felicity Johnson (SA) Vicki Birks W19 7.5km Scratch Race Final 1 Skye-Lee Armstrong (NSW) 9.53 2 Bianca Rogers (SA) 3 Amanda Spratt (NSW) 4 Tess Downing (Vic) 5 Laura Meisel-Dennis (ACT) 6 Jessica Hume (NSW) 7 Grace Sulzberger (Tas) 8 Philippa Martin (WA) 9 Tahlia Clayton (Vic) 10 Kylie Hansen (WA) 11 Brigette Broad (NZL) 12 Jessica Tanner (Vic) 13 Tiffany Cromwell (SA) 14 Kira Mason (SA) 15 Renae Horsley (WA) M19 25km Points Race Final 1 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 47 30.58 2 Cameron Meyer (WA) 42 3 Mitchell Pearson (NSW) 36 4 Fabio Calabria (ACT) 8 5 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 7 6 Todd Dawson (Qld) 7 7 Russell Gill (SA) 6 8 Adam O'connor (WA) 5 9 Luke Cridland (NSW) 5 10 Mario Giramondo (Vic) 2 11 Duane Johansen (WA) 1 12 Jack Rassie (Qld) 1 13 William Robinson (Tas) 0 14 Jarrod Harman (Tas) 0 15 Gerard Murphy (Vic) -20 DNF Tyler Mclachlan (NSW) DNF Craig Mattingly (SA) DNF Matt Sanders (SA)
Session 7
W19 Sprint Qualification 1 Hayley Wright (Qld) 12.438 (57.89 km/h) 2 Jennifer Loutit (ACT) 12.484 (57.67 km/h) 3 Brigette Broad (NZl) 12.528 (57.47 km/h) 4 Jessica Tanner (Vic) 12.615 (57.07 km/h) 5 Skye-Lee Armstrong (NSW) 12.693 (56.72 km/h) 6 Chloe Macpherson (Qld) 12.693 (56.72 km/h) 7 Hannah Bush (Vic) 13.082 (55.04 km/h) 8 Jessica Hume (NSW) 13.106 (54.94 km/h) 9 Tahlia Clayton (Vic) 13.669 (52.67 km/h) 10 Natalie Macfarlan (SA) 13.844 (52.01 km/h) 11 Renae Horsley (WA) 14.464 (49.78 km/h) W19 Sprint Quarter Finals Heat 1 1 Jennifer Loutit (ACT) 13.514 2 Tahlia Clayton (Vic) Heat 2 1 Brigette Broad (NZl) 12.939 2 Jessica Hume (NSW) Heat 3 1 Jessica Tanner (Vic) 14.153 2 Hannah Bush (Vic) Heat 4 1 Chloe Macpherson 12.799 2 Skye-Lee Armstrong W19 Sprint 5th - 8th 5 Jessica Hume (NSW) 13.782 6 Skye-Lee Armstrong (NSW) 7 Tahlia Clayton (Vic) 8 Hannah Bush (Vic) Women Sprint Qualification 1 Anna Meares (Qld) 11.667 (61.71 km/h) 2 Lori-Ann Muenzer (Can) 11.748 (61.29 km/h) 3 Kerrie Meares (Qld) 11.784 (61.10 km/h) 4 Liz Williams (NZl) 11.932 (60.34 km/h) 5 Kristine Bayley (WA) 12.168 (59.17 km/h) 6 Laura Mccaughey (Tas) 12.227 (58.89 km/h) 7 Elizabeth Georgouras (NSW) 12.275 (58.66 km/h) 8 Rebecca Borgo (NSW) 12.483 (57.68 km/h) 9 Rikki Johnson (SA) 13.233 (54.41 km/h) 10 Sue Ann Woodwiss (SA) 13.233 (54.41 km/h) 11 Nicole Holt (Vic) 13.408 (53.70 km/h) 12 Kellie Louise Hards (SA) 13.991 (51.46 km/h) 13 Deborah Lovely (Qld) 14.104 (51.05 km/h) Women Sprint Round 1 Heat 1 1 Anna Meares (Qld) (Bye) Heat 2 1 Lori-Ann Muenzer (Can) (Bye) Heat 3 1 Kerrie Meares (Qld) (Bye) Heat 4 1 Liz Williams (NZl) 12.629 2 Deborah Lovely (Qld) Heat 5 1 Kristine Bayley (WA) 13.144 2 Kellie Louise Hards (SA) Heat 6 1 Laura Mccaughey (Tas) 12.621 2 Nicole Holt (Vic) Heat 7 1 Elizabeth Georgouras (NSW) 12.511 2 Sue Ann Woodwiss (SA) Heat 8 1 Rebecca Borgo (NSW) 12.733 2 Rikki Johnson (SA) Open Men 4000m Team Pursuit Qualification 1 Stephen Fitzpatrick (NSW) 4:13.618 (56.78 km/h) Stephen Wooldridge Christopher Pascoe Christopher Sutton 2 Nathan Clarke (Tas) 4:14.470 (56.59 km/h) Stephen Rossendell Mark Jamieson Matthew Goss 3 Richard England (Vic) 4:14.668 (56.54 km/h) Steven Sansonetti Sean Finning David Pell 4 Ashley Hutchinson (Qld) 4:17.829 (55.85 km/h) Miles Olman Bradley Payne Grant Irwin 5 Zakkari Dempster (Vic) 4:24.837 (54.37 km/h) Mark O'brien Mario Giramondo Gerard Murphy 6 Kyle Bateson (Qld) 4:26.245 (54.09 km/h) Todd Dawson Hayden Josefski Joel Davis 7 Tyler Mclachlan (NSW) 4:26.365 (54.06 km/h) Mitchell Pearson Jackson-Leigh Rathbone Matthew Pettit 8 Cameron Meyer (WA) 4:27.579 (53.82 km/h) Adam O'connor Duane Johansen Jayden Veljacich 9 Craig Mattingly (SA) 4:33.136 (52.72 km/h) Edward Petney Russell Gill Matt Sanders Women Tandem Sprint Qualification 1 Janet Shaw (WA) 12.285 Kerry Cohen 2 Felicity Johnson (SA) 13.156 Vicki Birks
