14 Nov 2009

Oceania Cycling champs wrap up

7:04 am on 14 November 2009

Triple world junior champion Sam Webster made an impressive debut in the elite ranks on the penultimate night of finals at the Oceania Cycling Championships in Invercargill last night.

The teenager was edged out by Australian sprint champion Daniel Ellis in three rides but the young Aucklander impressed in taking out the first of the three-race final at the ILT Velodrome.

While the youngster was starting his elite career, one of the country's most experienced cyclists, Joanne Kiesanowski showed her track class to win her second title of the championships.

The Christchurch rider, who has been concentrating on her road career for several years, added the elite women's Points race to the Scratch race she won last night.

The Team TIBCO rider, who is based in the USA, was in control throughout to win comfortably from Gemma Dudley (Levin) and Kaytee Boyd (Auckland).

New BikeNZ national sprint coach Justin Grace, a multi New Zealand sprint champion, was delighted with the performance from Webster. He said Webster had performed beyond expectation in his first competition as an elite competitor after stepping out of the junior ranks against the well performed Ellis.

In other competition Annette Edmondson led an Australian trifecta in winning the women's 500m time trial, clocking 35.956s, with Auckland's Stephanie McKenzie winning the under-19s.

Australia's Matt Glaetzer won the under-19 men's sprint final in two straight over compatriot Jamie Green.

The New Zealand pairing of Olympic medallist Jesse Sergent (Feilding) and national champion Tom Scully (Invercargill) produced a top display to win the 30km Madison.

The Australian duo of Alex Carver and Scott Law made the early pace before a concerted attack, started by Sergent and finished with a withering burst from Scully, saw the kiwi team gain a lap on the field and take control of the contest.

The final night of competition on the track is scheduled for Saturday with the road races in Gore on Sunday.