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2007 Australian Senior Track Championships - CN
Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sydney, February 5-11, 2007
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Day 7- February 11: Women U19 keirin, Men 1km TT, Men omnium, Women keirin, Women U19 20km points, Men U19 30km Madison
Kersten wins gold in kilo and omnium
By John Michael Flynn at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome
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It took a week, but the pure class of Commonwealth Games kilo champion Ben Kersten finally came to the surface as the Australian Track Cycling Championships concluded this afternoon at Sydney's Dunc Gray Velodrome. Kersten opened his gold medal account with a victory in the one kilometre time trial then showed his versatility by winning the inaugural Australian men's omnium championship.
Benny K's kilo time of 1.02.87 was easily the best on the day, with Joel Leonard claiming the silver medal in 1.03.121. New to the senior ranks, Western Australian Scott Sunderland also raised eyebrows with his impressive time of 1.03.554. Still, the Commonwealth Games champion was far from impressed with his performance. On the road back after spinal surgery - Kersten feels he's yet to regain the edge which has separated him on the top shelf of Australian track cycling. "Yeah it doesn't matter what the time is, you still feel a certain way and the feeling of sharpness isn't there," Kersten told Cyclingnews. "I'm still in a bad hole."
The kilo doubled as the first event in the inaugural Australian men's omnium championship - an event seemingly custom made for a rider of Kersten's abilities as both a sprinter and track endurance cyclist. The omnium schedule also included a flying 200 metre time trial, 5 kilometre scratch race, 3000 metre individual pursuit and 15 kilometre points race. Kersten featured in every round, winning the pursuit and the flying 200, finishing second in the scratch race and second in the points race, which concluded the final day program.
The final lap of the points race was classic Kersten, who treated the event like a wheelrace, pulling a huge gear and winding it up in the run for home as he burned off most of the field. "Yeah it's a nice feeling, finally something that suits me a little bit, more of a novelty than anything else," Kersten said after thrilling the crowd as he does better than most.
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But the omnium isn't likely to remain a novelty for Kersten - give his attributes it's likely he'll ride the event at the 2007 World Championships. "It's something I've always thought would be a good idea, but there's always that thought in the back of my mind that it won't get you anywhere in terms of Olympic selection," Kersten said. (the omnium is not an Olympic event - yet)
Saturday's men's keirin winner Joel Leonard also contined his impressive Australian championships by taking silver in the omnium, while J.L. Rathbone, the courageous winner of the points race from earlier in the week claimed the bronze.
Howard wins Madison - and Champion of Champions
Victorian Leigh Howard received the ultimate accolade at the Australian Track Cycling championships - being awarded the champion of champions trophy at the end of a week of stellar performances. Howard came away with five gold medals at the nationals, but none were better than today's effort in the under 19 men's Madison, where the junior world champion teamed with Geelong based training partner James Langedyk, for the most impressive of victories.
As is customary at the Australian Track Championships, Australia's best under 19's - the world's best under 19's for that matter - chased each other down like 'working dogs' and the battle between the young Victorians and the South Australian pairing of junior world champion Jack Bobridge and Jack Rhodes was worth the admission price.
The first twenty laps of the race were frantic as speeds averaged close to 55 kilometres per hour. With forty laps to go, the Victorians and South Australians established a one lap lead - the battle for points coming down to the last sprint. "It's fantastic for us both to come from Geelong,we do a lot of training together, so it's good to come and win together," Howard told Cyclingnews after securing his fifth gold medal for the championships.
Langedyk deserved at least an equal share of the praise - contributing strongly at the back end of the race. "We tried to get places in the first few sprints and looking for a lap in the second half of the race when everyone's fairly tired," Langedyk said of the race tactics. "Once we took a lap together, really all we had to do was defend."
The Victorians were pushed all the way by the South Australian pairing of Rhodes and Bobridge, who simply refused to die. "Tough race, James and Leigh just rode awesome, but I've gotta hand it to Bobby (Bobridge) as well, he's in a league of his own," an exhausted Jack Rhodes told Cyclingnews. The South Australian making an important point about the talent on show. "Bit unfortunate not to get the gold but it's good in the end to come second. Leigh Howard's just a freak, this is an exceptional year for under 19 men," Rhodes added.
Langedyk and Bobridge will be among the riders in contention to join Howard in the under 19 teams pursuit at the World Championships. And having wrapped up the champion of champions, Howard is all the more motivated. "I've done loads of work coming into this and it's all paid off," Howard said. "World championships, I have to raise the bar again, which I'm going to do. More hard work and early mornings, but it's what you have to do to win a world championship."
Meares wins women's keirin - Rockhampton protégé wins under 19 keirin
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Hot favourite Anna Meares rode another perfect race to claim the National Women's Keirin Championship - sending yet another message to her international rivals to watch out in 2007. There was drama early on in the keirin heats, with sister Kerrie, former world junior keirin champion Chloe Macpherson and Kaarle McCulloch all forced into the repechage after tactically deficient heat rides. Kerrie Meares blasted home in the repechage ahead of Chloe Macpherson to gain a place in the final - where she rode from the back of the field as Anna dominated on the front.
The younger of the Meares sisters had the wheel of the motorbike, and when it departed the track, the World Champion simply rode everyone off her wheel. "I saw the other keirins and the repechages, it was like nobody was willing to lead out ," Meares said. "I thought you know what' I'm just going to go on the front and if they can't come around me I'm in good stead and if they can come around me, we'll see."
Overall Meares was satisfied with her National Championship performance, which had only one blemish in losing the sprint final to sister Kerrie. "I'm very happy with it, overall for the past couple of years I haven't been able to go out and put quite good quality performances in every event and that's something I'm quite happy with how I've come out of these championships," Meares said. "National championship in the five hundred metre time trial, team sprint gold with Kerrie, silver in the sprint and gold in the keirin. I feel like I've been able to maintain myself in the championships."
Hindmarsh impressive
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Meares also kept a close eye on today's performance from another Rockhampton prodigy in Philippa Hindmarsh. The first year under 19 competitor was riding at another level to her opponents, and with the smooth pedaling style she has developed under the direction of Ken Tucker, made her victory in the under 19 women's keirin look relatively straight forward.
Hindmarsh finished with two gold medals and one silver for the championships. "Very very happy, it worked out really well for me," Hindmarsh told Cyclingnews. "I got through the heat, they seemed to just give me the (motor) bike in the final which worked out for me well, I didn't have to come around any people.
According to Hindmarsh, the result even had her coach smiling. "He is actually," Hindmarsh said with a hint of surprise. He doesn't usually get excited about many things."
There was also special praise for Hindmarsh from Anna Meares, who at least for the moment, doesn't have a rival in her same class at National level. Hindmarsh, at least for the moment, looks to be the best of the next generation of sprinters. "She's going well and from the performances here she's going really fast," Meares said. "She should be really proud of herself."
Tomic wins under 19 points race
Another of the junior women to impress on the final day of the National Track Championships was Western Australia's Josephine Tomic, who blitzed her opponents in the under 19 women's 20 kilometre points race. Tomic won the first three sprints and was ably supported by her W.A. team-mates Camille Pallett and Sarah Kent, who, once Tomic had built a points advantage, mounted several attacks, and made their interstate rivals chase. "I felt if I raced it hard and helped Josie to win then we'd get a good outcome," the hard working Kent said.
Tomic appreciated the work of her W.A. team-mates, who helped her back up for another gold medal after winning the under 19 women's pursuit. "Yeah I'm really happy - I wanted to come here and win the points and the pursuit and I've done it," Tomic said.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by John Veage
- Queensland's Phillipa Hindmarsh continued her good form to win the women's U19 keirin.
- Hindmarsh takes a victory lap.
- The U19 keirin podium.
- Ben Kersten takes out the kilo.
- Joel Leonard kept his keirin form going into the kilo/
- The men's kilo podium (l-r): Joel Leonard, Ben Kersten and Scott Sunderland.
- Junior rider of the series Josephine Tomic wins the U19 points race...
- ...and everything else.
- Josephine Tomic was delighted with her win.
- Anna Meares leads with a lap to go in the final of the women's keirin.
Images by John Flynn/Cyclingnews.com
- A breakaway group of four in the under 19 women's points race.
- All bunched up in the under 19 women's points race.
- Andrea Beer, Josephine Tomic and Lisa Friend fighting for sprint points.
- Anna Meares rides away from the competition in the women's keirin.
- Commonwealth Games kilo champion Ben Kersten concentrates.
- Countdown to blast off as Benny K watches the clock.
- J.L. Rathbone racing the omnium.
- J.L. Rathbone showing his pursuit skills.
- Jack Rhodes propels Jack Bobridge into the fray in the under 19 men's madison.
- James Langedyk and Jack Bobridge blast around the outside of Travis Meyer.
- James Langedyk gives Leigh Howard a sling in the under 19 men's madison.
- Joel Leonard keeps an eye on his kilo time.
- Joel Leonard showing off his pursuit skills.
- Joel Stewart of the ACT in the men's omnium.
- Josephine Tomic (centre) the winner of the women's under 19 points race.
- Kersten celebrates winning the kilo.
- Leigh Howard and James Langedyk on the final changeover in the under 19 men's madison.
- Sarah Edwards about to add to her points tally in the under 19 women's points race.
- Steve George competing for Queensland in the omnium.
- The madison champions with race announcer Stuey Doyle.
- U.S. cyclist Erica Allar waits for the start of the women's keirin with coach Jame Carney.
Results
Men omnium final after 5 rounds 1 Ben Kersten (NSW) 7 pts 2 Joel Leonard (Vic) 15 3 Jackson-leigh Rathbone (NSW) 18 4 Stephen Rossendell (Tas) 21 5 Jeremy Hogg (Qld) 25 6 Douglas Repacholi (WA) 36 7 Steven George (Qld) 36 8 Joel Stewart (Act) 40 9 Kyle Marwood (Vic) 46 DNF Peter Dawson (WA) DNF David Miller (SA) Men 15km points race - omnium round 1 Douglas Repacholi (WA) 18 pts 2 Ben Kersten (NSW) 12 3 Jeremy Hogg (Qld) 12 4 Stephen Rossendell (Tas) 8 5 Joel Leonard (Vic) 8 6 Jackson-leigh Rathbone (NSW) 5 7 Steven George (Qld) 3 8 Joel Stewart (Act) 0 9 Kyle Marwood (Vic) 0 DNF David Miller (SA) DNF Peter Dawson (WA) Men 3000m individual pursuit - omnium round 1 Ben Kersten (NSW) 3.28.70 (51.74 km/h) 2 Jackson-leigh Rathbone (NSW) 3.29.40 (51.58 km/h) 3 Peter Dawson (WA) 3.29.80 (51.47 km/h) 4 Stephen Rossendell (Tas) 3.32.10 (50.92 km/h) 5 Joel Leonard (Vic) 3.32.20 (50.90 km/h) 6 Douglas Repacholi (WA) 3.33.80 (50.51 km/h) 7 Kyle Marwood (Vic) 3.35.20 (50.19 km/h) 8 Steven George (Qld) 3.35.30 (50.16 km/h) 9 Jeremy Hogg (Qld) 3.39.70 (49.16 km/h) 10 Joel Stewart (Act) 3.49.20 (47.12 km/h) 11 David Miller (SA) 3.59.40 (45.11 km/h) Women keirin final 1 Anna Meares (Qld) 2 Erica Allar (Usa) 3 Kristine Bayley (WA) 4 Laura Mccaughey (Tas) 5 Elizabeth Georgouras (NSW) 6 Kerrie Meares (Qld) Women U19 20km points race final 1 Josephine Tomic (WA) 24 pts (43.85km/h) 2 Courtney Le Lay (Qld) 16 3 Andrea Beer (NSW) 13 4 Sarah Edwards (Qld) 10 5 Chloe Hosking (Act) 10 6 Ellen Marks (NSW) 3 7 Carlee Taylor (SA) 1 8 Camille Pallett (WA) 1 9 Bethany Coleman (Tas) 0 10 Lauren Kitchen (NSW) 0 11 Sarah Kent (WA) 0 12 Zoe Appel (Qld) -17 DNF Myfanwy Galloway (Act) DNF Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW) DNF Lisa Friend (Vic) DNF Laine Hammond (Vic) DNF Lauren Hooper (Vic) Men 5km scratch race - omnium round 1 Joel Leonard (Vic) 2 Ben Kersten (NSW) 3 Stephen Rossendell (Tas) 4 Jackson-leigh Rathbone (NSW) 5 Peter Dawson (WA) 6 Jeremy Hogg (Qld) 7 Joel Stewart (Act) 8 Steven George (Qld) 9 Kyle Marwood (Vic) 10 Douglas Repacholi (WA) 11 David Miller (SA) Women keirin round 2 Heat 1 1 Laura Mccaughey (Tas) 2 Apryl Eppinger (Vic) 3 Cassandra Kell (NSW) 4 Jennifer Loutit (Act) Heat 2 1 Kerrie Meares (Qld) 2 Chloe Macpherson (Qld) 3 Davina Summers (WA) 4 Kaarle Mcculloch (NSW) Women U19 keirin final 1 Philippa Hindmarsh (Qld) 2 Josephine Butler (WA) 3 Chloe Hosking (Act) 4 Netasha Pearse (NSW) 5 Andrea Beer (NSW) 6 Stephanie Morton (SA) Men 200m time trial - omnium round 1 Ben Kersten (NSW) 10.594 (67.96 km/h) 2 Joel Leonard (Vic) 10.734 (67.08 km/h) 3 Jeremy Hogg (Qld) 11.143 (64.61 km/h) 3 Jackson-leigh Rathbone (NSW) 11.143 (64.61 km/h) 5 Stephen Rossendell (Tas) 11.224 (64.15 km/h) 6 Steven George (Qld) 11.277 (63.85 km/h) 7 Joel Stewart (Act) 11.370 (63.32 km/h) 8 Peter Dawson (WA) 11.373 (63.31 km/h) 9 David Miller (SA) 11.503 (62.59 km/h) 10 Douglas Repacholi (WA) 11.663 (61.73 km/h) 11 Kyle Marwood (Vic) 11.746 (61.30 km/h) Women U19 keirin round 2 Heat 1 1 Chloe Hosking (Act) 2 Esther Pugh-uren (Vic) 3 Samsiah Rice (WA) 4 Lauren Kitchen (NSW) Heat 2 1 Andrea Beer (NSW) 2 Myfanwy Galloway (Act) 3 Bethany Coleman (Tas) 4 Jessica Ellis (Act) Men 1000m time trial final 1 Ben Kersten (NSW) 1.02.90 (57.26 km/h) 2 Joel Leonard (Vic) 1.03.10 (57.03 km/h) 3 Scott Sunderland (WA) 1.03.60 (56.64 km/h) 4 Jackson-leigh Rathbone (NSW) 1.05.70 (54.81 km/h) 5 Jeremy Hogg (Qld) 1.06.30 (54.28 km/h) 6 Daniel Ellis (Act) 1.06.60 (54.04 km/h) 7 Stephen Rossendell (Tas) 1.07.10 (53.64 km/h) 8 Peter Dawson (WA) 1.07.30 (53.49 km/h) 9 Michael Lewis (NSW) 1.08.00 (52.92 km/h) 10 Steven George (Qld) 1.08.60 (52.50 km/h) 11 Joel Stewart (Act) 1.09.10 (52.13 km/h) 12 Douglas Repacholi (WA) 1.09.60 (51.74 km/h) 13 Chad Anderson (Nt) 1.10.10 (51.32 km/h) 14 Kyle Marwood (Vic) 1.10.30 (51.24 km/h) 15 David Miller (SA) 1.11.30 (50.48 km/h) DNS Rizal Tisin (Mas) Women U19 keirin round 1 Heat 1 1 Josephine Butler (WA) 2 Stephanie Morton (SA) 3 Chloe Hosking (Act) 4 Bethany Coleman (Tas) 5 Lauren Kitchen (NSW) 6 Myfanwy Galloway (Act) Heat 2 1 Philippa Hindmarsh (Qld) 2 Netasha Pearse (NSW) 3 Andrea Beer (NSW) 4 Samsiah Rice (WA) 5 Jessica Ellis (Act) 6 Esther Pugh-uren (Vic)
