19 Jan 2013

1-2 finish in sweltering Sydney conditions

12:18 pm on 19 January 2013

New Zealand track cyclists Jeremy Presbury and Callum Saunders have won gold and silver respectively in the men's Keirin event at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival in Sydney.

Presbury, of Invercargill, led fellow 17-year-old Callum Saunders of Blenheim home in a 1-2 finish as New Zealand's team of 156 junior athletes battled the heat on the hottest day on record since 1939 in Sydney.

Temperatures peaked at 45.8 degrees just before 3pm and many events were suspended, postponed or cancelled.

Despite the sweltering conditions there were a number of medals to go with the opening day's silver medal, also to the cyclists in the team sprint.

Hamilton swimmer Bradley Ashby won silver in the 400-metre Individual Medley, weightlifter Stewart Bruerton of Amberley collected silver in the men's 77-kilo competition, and in shooting, Amy Van Bysterveldt of Morrinsville picked up bronze in the Women's Skeet 75.