CYCLING: Australia claimed five gold medals on the final day of competition at the 2016 Oceania Track Championships in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Kaarle McCulloch claimed gold in the sprint, her third of the Championships following team sprint and time trial success. Matthew Glaetzer added the keirin title to his sprint victory yesterday, while Georgia Baker took gold in the omnium, her second title after the individual pursuit. Macey Stewart and Josh Toovey picked up gold in the non-Olympic points race.

Women's Sprint

Kaarle McCulloch found old form to reclaim the Oceania women's sprint title, after last winning the event at the end of 2012.

"It means so much to me," said an elated McCulloch. "Two years ago when I was here my life was falling apart and I didn't race well.

"Twelve months ago I wasn't sure I could even make an Australian team again so to come back here and start the season off on a good note is just such a confidence booster for me."

Stephanie Morton was again in fine form as she set the only sub 11-second time of 10.923secs for a new New Zealand all-comers record for the flying 200m. McCulloch was marginally slower with 11.019secs.

McCulloch and Morton both advanced through the rounds and took convincing wins in the semi finals setting up an all Australia battle for gold.

Morton was too strong for McCulloch in the first heat coming over the top in the final straight to go one up. But it was McCulloch who hit out early holding Morton off in the second, and in the decider it was a battle to the line but McCulloch again had the speed to hold off Morton.

"Winning today keeps me in contention for an Olympic spot and I want the selectors and everyone to know I am here to go to Rio not just to provide competition," added McCulloch.

"It was a good battle with Steph and I was really pleased with the quality of my races and the times I raced through in for the rounds.  I've never had to go to three in a final before so it was a good test mentally more than physically and I was happy to prevail.

"Overall it's a good start and I hope to continue the results in the World Cups and get a solid standing lap time out."

Natasha Hansen claimed bronze ahead of Holly Takos. Hansen was too strong in the opening heat before Takos claimed the second, sending it to a decider. Takos pushed Hansen all the way to the line but in the end had to settle for fourth.

Caitlin Ward took out the 5-8 final ahead of Catherine Culvenor, Katie Schofield (New Zealand) and Stefanie Fernandez Preiksa.

Keirin

Sprint champion Matthew Glaetzer claimed the sprint-keirin double, unleashing his powerful finishing speed to claim gold in the keirin.

Glaetzer's acceleration created a gap on the rest of the field as he claimed gold with Simon Van Velthooven of New Zealand taking silver, asMitchell Bullen had to settle for third. Defending Champion Jacob Schmid finished fifth.

Shane Perkins took out the 7-12 final with Jai Angsuthasawit eighth, Peter Lewis ninth, Pat Constable tenth and Tom Clarke twelfth.

Kye Bonser claimed his fourth medal of the championships with bronze in the under 19 event ahead of Ryan Schilt, Charles Hofman and Kai Chapman. Gold and silver went to New Zealand duo of Bradly Knipe and Hamish Beadle.

Omnium

Tasmania's Georgia Baker finished the 500m time trial in 36.524secs for second fastest and completed the event's penultimate event, the flying lap, in the third fastest time of 14.836secs.

Heading in to the points race with an eight point to New Zealand's Kirstie James, and there was to be no denying Baker gold as she won seven of the ten sprints and picked up points in another to seal victory with 230 points.  James settled for silver.

"I'm really happy to get another win today in the omnium," Baker said. "It was a very heavy schedule but I felt good considering.

"I'm looking forward to having a few days easy before resuming my training coming into the track season."

Elissa Wundersitz came out flying in the points race winning the second sprint before continuing on to take a solo lap, jumping her to third overall and the bronze medal.

Chloe Heffernan raced her way to the silver medal with a smart ride in the final points race. After finishing third in both the 500m time trial in 38.778secs, and flying lap 15.530secs to start the final points race in third, 10 points off gold ready to pounce.

Claiming points in six of the eight sprints, with a crucial three points in the final sprint drew her level with Ellesse Andrews (New Zealand) on 198 points. Heffernan took silver on count back as Emily Shearman of New Zealand proved strongest for gold on 211.

Points Race (non-Olympic)

Macey Stewart was at the front from start to finish to claim gold in the women's points race. After taking the early lead Stewart was active throughout the remainder of the race picking up points to finish on 26. 

"It feels pretty good to win gold!" said Stewart. "Its nice to come off the road and get a result on the track."

"It was a tough race because there was a small Field and therefore nowhere to hide"

Georgia Baker returned to the track less than an hour after her omnium success, pushing Stewart all the way before earning the silver medal on 22 points.

"The points race this evening was tough as it was straight after the 100 lap points race in the omnium," added Baker. 

"I am satisfied with my silver medal considering how tough the past two days have been."

New Zealand's Alysha Keith rounded out the podium on 20.

"It was great to have teammates Georgia and Elissa there with me, after a solid omnium! So massive ups to them, especially Georgia in claiming silver," added Stewart.

"It was a great way to end a good week of racing with great results all round for the Aussies! We should all be able to take confidence into our next races."

In the under 19 men’s race Josh Toovey picked the right moment winning the fifth sprint and attacking and quickly gaining a lap to move in to the lead. As the laps counted down nobody was able to make up the advantage as Toovey took one point in the final sprint to seal the title on 26 points. Silver went to German Magnus Tuxen Rosing on 23 with Hayden Strong of New Zealand taking bronze with 20 points.

New Zealand's Aaron Gate was in unstoppable form taking an early lap and steadily building on it before taking a second lap later in the race. Gate's 86 points were an insurmountable target with Hayden Roulston New Zealand taking silver on a distant 45.

There was a three-way battle for bronze including Alex Porter who finished with 20 points but missed a medal on count back as Luke Mudgway made it an all New Zealand podium.

Men's Madison (non-Olympic)

Sam Welsford and Jackson Law claimed silver in a hard fought battle against two teams from New Zealand. Welsford and Law quickly established themselves with Cameron Karwowski and Nick Kergozou (New Zealand) and Luke Mudgway and Thomas Sexton (New Zealand Development) as the teams to beat.

The lead changed regularly between Welsford and Law and Karwowski and Nick Kergozou throughout the race, with Mudgway and Sexton also in contention. Ahead of the final sprint Welsford and Law had a narrow two-point lead on both teams with the medals still up for grabs.

In a close finish Kergozou just edged Law on the line, with both teams ending on 17 points. Gold went to New Zealand's Cameron Karwowski and Nick Kergozou on count back, with their first place in the final sprint. Luke Mudgway and Thomas Sexton took the bronze medal on 14.

Cycling Australia