12 Aug 2016

Silver for NZ in men's team sprint

9:59 am on 12 August 2016

Rio 2016 Olympics - The world champion New Zealand men's sprint team have won silver in the track cycling at the Rio Olympics, missing out on gold by the narrowest of margins.

The trio of Eddie Dawkins, Sam Webster and Ethan Mitchell were beaten by Great Britain by just over a 10th of a second in the final.

New Zealand's Eddie Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell and Sam Webster compete in the men's Team Sprint qualifying track cycling event.

New Zealand's Eddie Dawkins, Ethan Mitchell and Sam Webster. Photo: AFP

Great Britain finished in an Olympic record time of 42.440 seconds, with New Zealand just behind with a time of 42.542 seconds.

New Zealand had easily overcome Germany in their heat in a new Olympic record time of 42.545 seconds.

The medal is New Zealand's third today, after the rowing men's pair of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray defended their Olympic title to claim the country's first gold of the Games and kayaker Luuka Jones won silver.

Meanwhile the New Zealand men's and women's team pursuit have both advanced to the next round.

The men were fourth fastest in qualifying with the women finishing fifth fastest.

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