Southland sprinter Eddie Dawkins believes the New Zealand sprint programme has earned respect from the sport’s superpowers at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.

Southland’s Big Whopper, Eddie Dawkins moved into sprint cycling’s rarefied air on the third day of qualifying at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne.

Friday was a pretty special day to be a Southlander at the World Cycling Champs as firstly Matt Archibald and then Eddie Dawkins set new low times for a New Zealander in the Men's sprint qualifying.