09 Feb 2009

Australian Institute of Sport cyclist Anna Meares reclaimed the national 500-metre time trial title at the 2009 Australian Track Championships, held from 3-8 February at Adelaide’s Super-Dome.

Meares won the time trial in 34.554 seconds, just 0.12 of a second shy of the Australian record she set in 2007.

The defending time trial champion, AIS cyclist Kaarle McCulloch, won the silver medal with a time of 34.838 seconds, 0.101 of a second faster than her previous medal-winning time.

Meares was thrilled by her win:

‘I am more than happy, far more than happy with this time. I did the figures in my head after the team sprint and I thought, at best, 34.5 seconds was what I was capable of.’

Meares also claimed gold in the women’s sprint, silver in the women’s team sprint and bronze in the women’s keirin event.

It has been an incredible comeback for the cyclist, who recovered from a serious injury last year to win the silver medal in the women’s sprint at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.

AIS cyclists performed exceptionally well overall at the nationals, with Josephine Tomic, Jack Bobridge, Glenn O’Shea and Belinda Goss also among the big winners. 

Tomic won gold medals in the women’s 3000-metre individual pursuit, the women’s 3000-metre team pursuit and the women’s omnium, well exceeding her expectations.

‘I am really excited, I came here hoping to win the pursuit and team pursuit, so to come away with omnium as well is a bonus,’ Tomic said.

The 19-year-old Jack Bobridge continued his great run, winning gold in the men’s 4000-metre individual pursuit, in 4 minutes and 20.294 seconds, beating 21-year-old West Australian Cameron Meyer by just under two seconds.

Bobridge was delighted by the victory:

‘Out of the whole week, this is the one I wanted. I have been focusing on this race for the past few months so to come out and win it is fantastic.’

The Australian sprint sensation has been improving at every race since making his Olympic debut in Beijing where he finished fourth as a member of the team pursuit.

Bobridge also claimed silver medals in the men’s point race and the 15-kilometre scratch race, and bronze in the men’s team pursuit.

These great results cap a recent winning streak for Bobridge, who took out both under-23 time trial and road race titles at last month’s Scody Australian Open Road Cycling Championships.

Other great wins at the Australian Track Championships by AIS cyclists include Glenn O’Shea’s gold medals in the men’s 40-kilometre point race and 15-kilometre scratch race, and Belinda Goss’s gold in the women’s 25-kilometre point race and silver in the 10-kilometre scratch race.

AIS cyclist results at the 2009 Australian Track Championships

Gold:

• Jack Bobridge — men’s 4000-metre individual pursuit
• Belinda Goss — women’s 25-kilometre points race
• Anna Meares — women’s 500-metre time trial, women’s sprint
• Travis Meyer — men’s 4000-metre team pursuit 
• Glenn O’Shea — men’s 40-kilometre point race, men’s 15-kilometre scratch race
• Josephine Tomic — women’s 3000-metre individual pursuit, women’s 3000-metre team pursuit, women’s omnium race

Silver:

• Jack Bobridge — men’s 40-kilometre point race, men’s 15-kilometre scratch race
• Belinda Goss — women’s 10-kilometre scratch race
• Kaarle McCulloch — women’s 500-metre time trial
• Anna Meares — women’s team sprint
• Jason Niblett — men’s team sprint
• Scott Sunderland — men’s keirin

Bronze:

• Jack Bobridge — open men’s 4000-metre team pursuit
• Anna Meares — women’s keiren
• Travis Meyer — men’s 4000-metre individual pursuit