25/02/2011 - Southland riders proved their dominance in the opening session of the 2011 RaboDirect Elite Track National Championships in Invercargill this morning.
Natasha Hansen (Southland) reigned supreme in the 250m time trial, beating her old national record. The challenging 250m time trial which sees the rider complete one lap of the track from a standing start, requires explosive power in order to excel. Hansen qualified fastest and went on to shave over point two of a second off her qualifying time to break the record in the final. She was no match for Katie Scholfield (Otago) and junior track world championship representative Henrietta Mitchell (Auckland) who finished second and third respectively.
Beijing World Cup gold medallist Simon van Velthooven was edged out by Southland’s Matt Archibald in the men’s 250 metre time trial. Archibald qualified fastest and then capitalised on that success to come away with the national title, only point two of a second faster then van Velthooven. Southland’s Sean Fox took third.
There was a noticeable absence in this event of Sam Webster, Eddie Dawkins and Sam Webster who only returned from racing the Manchester World Cup on Wednesday.
It was no surprise that Commonwealth Games gold medallist Alison Shanks qualified fastest in the women’s individual pursuit. Shanks rode a 3.32.565, nearly nine seconds faster then Jaime Nielsen, the second fastest of the morning. Fellow team pursuit team mates Kaytee Boyd and Rushlee Buchanan will ride for the bronze medal this evening.
Tonight’s racing includes the women’s individual pursuit final, the kilo time trial and the women’s team sprint. Racing starts at 6.30pm
Results:
Women’s 250m time trial, qualifying: Natasha Hansen (Southland) 20.289, 1; Katie Scholfield (Otago) 20.515, 2; Henrietta Mitchell (Auckland) 20.796, 3; Vanessa Quinn (Auckland) 21.822, 4
Final: Hansen 20.053 (NZ record) 1; Scholfield 20.329, 2; Mitchell 20.894,3.
Men’s 250m time trial, qualifying: Matt Archibald (Southland) 18.635, 1; Simon van Velthooven (East Coast North Island) 18.666, 2; Sean Fox (Southland) 18.895, 3; Elijah May (Canterbury)18.968, 4.
Final: Archibald 18.413, 1; van Velthooven 18.615, 2; Fox 18.715, 3.
Women’s 3000m individual pursuit, qualifying: Alison Shanks (Otago) 3.32.565, 1; Jaime Nielsen (Waikato Bay of Plenty) 3.41.399, 2; Kaytee Boyd (WBOP) 3.42.299, 3; Rushlee Buchanan (WBOP) 3.42.308, 4.