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2006 Australian Senior Track Championships - CN
Adelaide, South Australia, February 6-11, 2006
Day 1 - February 6: Under 19 men 3000m pursuit qualifying, AWD 1000m & 500m TTs, , Women 500m TT, Men 1km TT, Men U19 IP, Women U19 500m TT , Men U19 1km TT
Session 2: Adelaide 'Night-Meares' herald arrival of new cycling siblings
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By John Flynn in Adelaide
When the evening program commenced at the Adelaide Superdrome with the staging of the women's 500 metre time trial, the focus quickly turned from the Meares sisters to another pair of cycling siblings, the Bayleys of Western Australia.
Chasing a breakthrough senior National Championship, Flyin' Ryan's sister Kristine emerged from the shadow of her Olympic Champion brother, recording the first (and what would turn out to be the only) sub 36 second time for the night in the 500 metre time trial. It was left to Queenslanders Chloe Macpherson and Kerrie Meares to lay down the challenge, and Macpherson, the junior keirin world champion, showed her arrival in the senior ranks wasn't before time, with a bronze medal winning ride of 36.27 seconds.
Weeks away from lodging her Commonwealth Games gold medal defence, Kerrie Meares then made a mess of the start, all but giving the 500 metre time trial national title away to Bayley.
"I was a little bit optimistic with my gear, my start was a little bit off too," Meares told Cyclingnews post-race. "Nearly collected the lap board, I still gave it everything I had, considering the circumstances."
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In the end Meares clocked 36.061 seconds, well outside her best, but coming at a time when Australia's track cycling team is in the midst of solid training, the objective being to suffer now and taper closer to the Commonwealth Games.
"I reckon my legs blew up with maybe a quarter of a lap to go," Kerrie admitted. "Maybe if I'd tried a smaller gear I might have spun out so I'm not sure. We're still training, even though it's national's, we're training through national's so a little bit tired."
There was also no taking away from the performance of Kristine Bayley, with Meares among the first to congratulate her regular National Team training partner following the race.
"Oh it really hurt, I've got a massive headache now my legs are really sore," Bayley said upon snaring gold. "I'm so happy, I've been chasing a senior national title for a few years now."
The result, due in no small part to the assistance and inspiration provided by brother. "Huge inspiration, he's not racing tonight so he's helped me out with my bike and everything like that, just seeing the things he's done has pushed me to train a lot harder."
Kersten wins the kilo
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It was a night when pain faces weren't hard to come by among Australia's track cycling elite, and New South Wales sprinter Ben Kersten was certainly wearing his. Officially at least, there was nothing riding on Kersten's performance at the Adelaide Super-Drome, given he had already been named in Australia's Commonwealth Games team. But the presence of his rivals, Victorian Joel Leonard (who controversially missed Commonwealth Games selection) and the emerging Grant Irwin from Queensland, ensured Kersten would have to be close to his best on the night.
At it turned out 'close' was the best Kersten could manage, with the current heavy training program taking its toll physically and mentally. "Pretty tired and shagged," Kersten admitted post race. "No reason to have a day off for national's, making it non-selection."
And what of the Commonwealth Games selections? "I don't feel there's any pressure on me that I took his (Joel Leonard's) spot," Kersten said. The New South Welshman, who has met all selection requirements, added, "I don't think that I should be looked at as the one that stole his spot."
Under 19's on show
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The talk among coaches at the 2006 Australian Senior Track Cycling Championships was of the talent on show in the Under 19 men's division at this year's event.
The afternoon program, which saw the heats of the Under 19 3000 metre pursuit, proved a perfect prelude of what was to come. The gold medal ride off between Queensland's Hayden Josefski and Western Australia's Cameron Meyer turned out to be one of the races of the championships so far. Josefski's tactic of going out hard early, proving almost the perfect foil for Meyer's strong back end to the race.
Unable to reproduce the same sizzling speed of his sub 3 minute 20 second effort during the heats, Meyer still had enough left in the tank to chase down the Queenslander and put himself in contention for the same event at the World Championships.
"Very hard, didn't feel as good in that one as I did in the heat," Meyer later admitted. "But I knew if I held with him until four to go that I could roll over the top of him."
Josefski's silver medal effort provided yet another podium performance for the talented Queenslander, who continues to excel on both the track and the road. "I'm happy to just make it to the final," Josefski said. "I knew I had tough competition trying to stay with him at the end I knew he'd come home pretty quick, just ended up running out of legs."
More medals headed west
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The final event of the night at the Adelaide Super-Drome brought together another quality field in the under 19 division to contest the 1000 metre time trial. Among the emerging talents on show, Victoria's 2005 Under 17 track sensation Leigh Howard, Queenslanders Byron Davis and Jeremy Hogg and Western Australian powerhouse Scott Sunderland.
In a fitting finale, it was Sunderland, who as expected burnt up the track, his gold medal winning ride of 1.05.027, more than a second faster than Hogg and Howard. Better still it was a 'leave it all out there' ride from the gutsy Western Australian, who collapsed post-race and very clearly used every ounce of energy his legs could muster.
"I was trying not to black out half way through that last lap," Sunderland whispered as he tried to regather his composure. "Going into the third lap I thought I was finishing, then I realized I had one more to go and I thought that can't be good, so I started to dig deep and breathe and kept going."
Sunderland will be a warm favourite going into the Under 19 men's sprint at these championships.
Another five days of racing lie ahead at the Australian Senior Track Cycling Championships, which continue until Saturday night at the Adelaide Super-Drome.
Session 1 - Pursuit pacesetters set the mark at Australian Track Nationals
By John Flynn in Adelaide
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The Australian Senior Track Cycling Championships began in sensational fashion at the Adelaide Superdrome this afternoon, when Western Australian Cameron Myer edged below the elusive 3 minute 20 second barrier in the heats of the under 19 3000 metre individual pursuit.
Seasoned track insiders were hailing it one of the best performances since Bradley McGee made his way through the junior ranks, as Meyer rocketed home in a time of 3 minutes 19.632 seconds - averaging along the way a slick 54.1 kilometres per hour.
Meyer collapsed after finishing the all-out effort, the Western Australian knowing all along he would have to ride out of his skin with Queensland's Hayden Josefski breathing down his neck. Josefski earlier clocked a time 3.22.72, setting the scene for an exciting gold medal ride off.
But there were other impressive performances with Queensland's Joel Lewis and South Australian Jack Bobridge also very much on the pace.
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An exhausted Myer, from the Midlands Cycling Club in Perth, wasn't expecting the result and faces a tough assignment against Josefski in tonight's gold medal ride off. "I'm not really a natural pursuitist," Meyer told Cyclingnews. "But I've been working on it this year to try to go well at Nationals.
It was a big afternoon for the Western Australians at the Adelaide Superdrome. In the Athletes with disabilities events, which are also being staged at the championships, Perth's Jane Armstrong, set a world record in the LC3 500 metre time trial.
Meares out with injury
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Breaking news at the track is that World Record Holder and Olympic Champion Anna Meares won't be contesting tonight's 500 metre Time Trial for women.
Meares who was planning ride for a fourth consecutive National Title in her pet event is still feeling the effects of what's described as a disk injury in her back.
"It was a really hard decision," Meares told Cyclingnews. "Would have been four in a row, I really really wanted to ride tonight.
The injury occurred in July of last year, and it was aggravated by the Olympic Champion in the gym, shortly after the Manchester World Cup. But Meares is adamant she will contest the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
"It's just precautionary me not riding the time trial tonight," the World Record holder in the 500 metre time trial said. "If I'm gonna break my back I wanna do it in Melbourne."
Meares' sister Kerrie will go into the 500 metre time trial as favourite, with big improvement expected from fellow Queensland Chloe Macpherson.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Session 2
Images by John Veage
- Scott Sunderland going for gold in the U19 men's kilo
- Cameron Meyer (WA) was too good in the final for Hayden Josefski
- Kaarle Mcculloch (NSW) on her way to winning the U19 women's TT
- Kaarle Mcculloch (NSW) the winner of the U19 women's TT
- Kerrie Meares ready to go in the women's TT
- Ben Kersten (NSW) smiles with his gold medal
- Ben Kersten (NSW) puts in another great ride to win the men's kilo
- Kristine Bayley was very happy with her gold in the women's 500m TT
- Kristine Bayley (WA) put in a great performance to win the women's 500m TT
- Session 2 winners
Images by John Flynn/Cyclingnews.com
- Anna Meares makes a last minute decision not to race
- South Australia's Kate Scott
- Liz Georgouras finishes outside the medals
- Junior World Champion Chloe Macpherson on the start line
- Chloe Macpherson in a bronze medal performance
- Kristine Bayley
- Kristine Bayley with gold in her sights
- A less than perfect start for Kerrie Meares
- Kerrie Meares picking up time
- Kristine Bayley all smiles
- Not a happy night for Kerrie Meares
- Grant Irwin in action in the Men's kilo
- Ben Kersten launches into the kilo
- Ben Kersten, a gold medal performance in the kilo
- Stepping up to the Under 19's: Geelong's Leigh Howard
- Hayden Josefski in the final of the under 19 3000 metre pursuit
- Cameron Meyer rides to gold in the under 19 men's pursuit
- Jack Rhodes competes in the under 19 kilo for South Australia
- Lachlan Plane in the under 19 men's kilo
- Leigh Howard continues his busy event program in the kilo
- Jeremy Hogg of Rockhampton in the kilo
- Scott Sunderland slams it home in the kilo
Session 1
Images by John Veage
- Cameron Meyer (WA) en route to setting the fastest time in the U19 men's pursuit
- Cameron Meyer (WA) recovers from his effort
- Hayden Josefski (Qld) passes Dale Scarfe (NSW) and sets the second best time in the U19 men's pursuit
- Trent Deacon (Tas) winning the CP4 men's 1000m TT
- Janelle Lindsay drives the tandem with Lindy Hou behind, en route to winning the gold in the tandem 1000m time trial
- Shaun Hopkins and Ben Demery were fastest in the men's 1000m tandem TT
- Jane Armstrong (WA) with her gold medal for winning the LC3 women's 500m TT
- Jane Armstrong (WA) sets out to win the LC3 women's 500m TT
- The winners from session 1
Images by John Flynn/Cyclingnews.com
- Thomas Robinson of Tasmania in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Matt King of the Northern Territory in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Christos Winter of South Australia - under 19 pursuit heats
- Takahashi Sakamoto of Japan rides in the under 19 Pursuit heats
- Douglas Repacholi in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Joel Lewis of Queensland sets the early pace in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Joel lewis reels in Masato Fuwa of Japan in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Josh Edwards of Rockhampton in the under 19 men's pursuit
- Jack Bobridge strapping himself in for the ride
- Jack Bobridge of South Australia sizzling in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Jack Bobridge focused on a slick time
- Duane Johansen of Western Australia in the under 19 pursuit
- William Ford of Victoria in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Strong Victorian presence in the under 19 pursuit heats
- Hayden Josefski of Queensland ready to blitz the under 19 men's pursuit
- Hayden Josefski setting a fast pace
- Ricky Peoples of Victoria in the under 19 pursuit
- Cameron Myer blasting his way to a world class time
- Former under 17 sensation Leigh Howard in action in the under 19 pursuit
- Travis Meyer in the under 19 pursuit
- Leigh Howard making it hurt
- Jane Armstrong riding to a gold medal and a world record
- World Record breaker Jane Armstrong
Results
Session 2
Women 500m Time Trial 1 Kristine Bayley (WA) 0.35.882 (50.16 km/h) 2 Kerrie Meares (Qld) 0.36.061 3 Chloe Macpherson (Qld) 0.36.267 4 Rahna Demarte (Vic) 0.36.893 5 Elizabeth Georgouras (NSW) 0.36.946 6 Laura Mccaughey (Tas) 0.37.446 7 Kate Scott (SA) 0.38.435 8 Jennifer Loutit (ACT) 0.38.512 9 Theresa Cliff-Ryan (ACT) 0.38.850 10 Sue Ann Woodwiss (SA) 0.38.996 11 Jessie Maclean (ACT) 0.40.764 Men 1000m Time Trial 1 Ben Kersten (NSW) 1.03.039 (57.11 km/h) 2 Joel Leonard (Vic) 1.03.953 3 Adrian Sansonetti (Vic) 1.05.839 4 Grant Irwin (Qld) 1.06.187 5 Steven Sansonetti (Vic) 1.06.209 6 Mohd Rizal Tisin (MAS) 1.06.635 7 Mark Jamieson (Tas) 1.06.874 8 Mohd Hafis Sufian (MAS) 1.06.951 M19 3000m Individual Pursuit Finals For gold and silver 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 3.23.270 (53.13 km/h) 2 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 3.26.195 For bronze 3 Leigh Howard (Vic) 3.24.238 (52.88 km/h) 4 Jack Bobridge (SA) 3.27.590 W19 500m Time Trial 1 Kaarle Mcculloch (NSW) 0.36.702 (49.04 km/h) 2 Josephine Butler (WA) 0.37.938 3 Courtney Le Lay (Qld) 0.38.251 4 Samsiah Rice (WA) 0.38.298 5 Lisa Friend (Vic) 0.38.571 6 Loren Rowney (Qld) 0.39.611 7 Laura Meisel-Dennis (ACT) 0.39.810 8 Kira Mason (SA) 0.40.252 9 Carlee Taylor (SA) 0.41.160 M19 1000m Time Trial 1 Scott Sunderland (WA) 1.05.027 (55.36 km/h) 2 Leigh Howard (Vic) 1.06.502 3 Jeremy Hogg (Qld) 1.06.554 4 Byron Davis (Qld) 1.07.049 5 James Langedyk (Vic) 1.07.323 6 Lachlan Plane (Qld) 1.07.339 7 Alexander Smyth (Vic) 1.07.545 8 Thomas Robinson (Tas) 1.08.687 9 Anthony Rix (Vic) 1.08.812 10 Mark Glowacki (SA) 1.08.829 11 Takahiro Matsukawa (Jpn) 1.08.936 12 Jack Rhodes (SA) 1.09.893 13 Nicholas Spratt (NSW) 1.09.930 14 Hayato Iizuka (Jpn) 1.10.440 15 William Robinson (Tas) 1.10.491 16 Richard Lang (NSW) 1.10.814 17 Reuben Meneaud-Young (SA) 1.11.208 18 Travis Frisby (SA) 1.11.833 19 Shota Miki (Jpn) 1.12.403
Session 1
M19 3000m Individual Pursuit Qualification 1 Cameron Meyer (WA) 3.19.632 (54.10 km/h) 2 Hayden Josefski (Qld) 3.22.723 3 Leigh Howard (Vic) 3.23.401 4 Jack Bobridge (SA) 3.23.589 5 Travis Meyer (WA) 3.26.362 6 Ricky Peoples (Vic) 3.27.491 7 Joel Lewis (Qld) 3.27.517 8 Angus Morton (NSW) 3.28.612 9 Alexander Smyth (Vic) 3.29.003 10 Joshua Edwards (Qld) 3.30.113 11 Matthew Pettit (NSW) 3.30.390 12 Takashi Sakamoto (JPN) 3.30.716 13 Douglas Repacholi (WA) 3.32.149 14 William Ford (Vic) 3.32.831 15 Duane Johansen (WA) 3.33.287 16 Malcolm Rudolph (Qld) 3.33.343 17 Yuta Sunaga (JPN) 3.33.697 18 Dale Scarfe (NSW) 3.33.821 19 Christos Winter (SA) 3.35.702 20 Thomas Robinson (Tas) 3.36.484 21 William Robinson (Tas) 3.36.634 22 Masato Fuwa (JPN) 3.36.864 23 Reuben Meneaud-Young (SA) 3.38.526 24 Aaron Jones (Tas) 3.41.861 25 Justin Tomlinson (NSW) 3.42.715 26 Matt King (NT) 3.42.987 27 David Trott (NT) 3.58.048 28 Travis Frisby (SA) 4.00.315 Men 1000m Tandem Time Trial 1 Ben Demery (NSW) 1.06.052 (54.50 km/h) Shaun Hopkins 2 Benjamin Holmes (Qld) 1.10.462 Benjamin Macfie Women 1000m Tandem Time Trial 1 Lindy Hou (NSW) 1.13.160 (49.21 km/h) Janelle Lindsay 2 Vicki-Lynne Birks (SA) 1.18.367 Felicity Johnson LC1 Men 1000m Time Trial 1 Michael Gallagher (Vic) 1.10.733 (50.90 km/h) 2 Peter Brooks (NSW) 1.12.189 CP4 Men 1000m Time Trial 1 Trent Deacon (Tas) 1.13.680 (48.86 km/h) 2 Christopher Scott (Qld) 1.14.004 M19 1000m Tandem Time Trial 1 Byron Page (WA) 1.12.416 (49.71 km/h) Joshua Yates LC1 Women 500m Time Trial 1 Claire McLean (WA) 0.42.904 (41.95 km/h) LC2 Women 500m Time Trial 1 Angela Fleming (SA) 0.44.380 (40.56 km/h) LC3 Women 500m Time Trial 1 Jane Armstrong (WA) 0.47.279 (38.07 km/h) CP4 W19 500m Time Trial 1 Jayme Paris (NSW) 0.48.838 (36.86 km/h)
